Colorado man given life for DUI that killed Air Pressure veteran, injured kids

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A Colorado man who killed an Air Force veteran whereas driving drunk final 12 months will spend the remainder of his life behind bars after he was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide.

Paul Stephenson, 57, of Fortress Rock, was convicted in April of killing USAF Lt. Col. Matt Anderson and injuring his 4 kids after he crashed his truck into their car whereas driving drunk in August 2024.

Stephenson was sentenced to life in jail plus 92 years.

Anderson was stopped at a 7-Eleven gasoline station together with his household following a visit to the Douglas County Honest when he was killed, in line with the twenty third Judicial District Lawyer’s Workplace. His spouse was strolling into the shop when Stephenson drove his Chevy Silverado into their car.

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Paul Stephenson was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide after he killed a USAF veteran whereas driving dwelling. (twenty third Judicial District Lawyer’s Workplace)

Whereas in court docket, Stephenson admitted to ingesting a bottle of fireball whiskey and two beers before driving and his blood alcohol stage was 2.5 occasions the authorized restrict, the DA's workplace stated.

Stephenson racked up his third DUI conviction when he was discovered responsible of killing Anderson.

District Lawyer George Brauchler stated his workplace pursued the first-degree homicide cost to "ship a message to drunk drivers in Douglas County."

Brauchler, who prosecuted the case, stated it's a "bitter coincidence" that justice was handed down towards Anderson's killer in the future earlier than July Fourth.

USAF Lt. Col. Matt Anderson had simply left the Douglas County Honest together with his household when he was struck and killed. (twenty third Judicial District Lawyer’s Workplace)

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"It's a bitter coincidence that the day earlier than we have a good time our nation’s independence, we've got to confront the lack of one in every of America’s nice Patriots who died… Not by the hands of the enemy… However by the egocentric conduct of one in every of us," Bruachler stated.

"The one applicable sentence on this case is the one that can forestall issues like this from occurring once more by scaring the hell out of those that would have interaction in related habits."

USAF Lt. Col. Matt Anderson together with his spouse and his kids. (twenty third Judicial District Lawyer’s Workplace)

Brauchler acknowledged that Douglas County is essentially the most aggressive on drunk drivers in comparison with different jurisdictions within the space.

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Anderson's father stated the decision provides their household "a small quantity of closure" and thanked the companies concerned in handing the sentence down.

Senior Deputy District Lawyer Nate Marsh counseled the jury's choice and stated it mirrored how severe it's to drive drunk.

"The defendant cared solely about himself and confirmed a whole disregard for the worth of human life. This was homicide within the first degree-extreme indifference and the jury agreed. His life sentence will guarantee he can't rip anybody else from their household," Marsh stated.