Rogel Aguilera-Mederos petition gets millions of signatures to overturn 110 year prison sentence

Kim Kardashian has joined millions protesting a 110-year sentence for a man who killed four people as the case is “reopened”.

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos Credit: Denver Police

Kim Kardashian has thrown her support behind a review of a truck driver’s 110-year prison sentence as a motion effectively reopened the case.

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, was sentenced to 110 years in prison last week for the April 2019 crash in Colorado.

Aguilera-Mederos told police he lost control of his brakes and was unable to avoid traffic that was backed up, hitting 28 vehicles.

Doyle Harrison, 61, William Bailey, 67, Miguel Angel Lamas Arrellano, 24, and Stanley Politano, 69, who were all travelling in separate vehicles along the highway at the time were killed.

Kim Kardashian wants to become a lawyer.

Kardashian – who is studying law and has been vocal about prison reform, told her 271 million Instagram followers that she “took a deep dive in it to figure out what the situation is.”

“He was not drunk or under the influence; his brakes on the tractor-trailer failed,” she said. “Another shocking and unfair part of this case is that the judge didn’t want to sentence him to such a lengthy sentence. However, because of the mandatory minimums in Colorado, his hands were tied.

“Mandatory minimums take away judicial discretion and need to end,” she said.

Kardashian also condemned the celebrations of the prosecutors, saying their gift of a brake shoe trophy made her “sick”.

She added that Colorado Governor Jared Polis, “is a really good person and I know he will do the right thing.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

It came as Colorado District Attorney Alexis King filed a motion for a court to set a hearing to review Aguilera-Mederos’ sentence.

“As Colorado law required the imposition of the sentence in this case, the law also permits the Court to reconsider its sentence in an exceptional case involving unusual and extenuating circumstances,” her motion states. “This would allow for the conditions to be met for a modification of the defendant’s sentence as was discussed by the People in the initial sentencing hearing.’

A spokesperson for the DA’s office said this action “essentially reopens the case.”

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was sentenced to 110 years in prison for this 2019 crash that killed four people.

Aguilera-Mederos was convicted on 42 counts, including vehicular homicide, first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, reckless driving and careless driving.

Judge A. Bruce Jones said despite the driver passing all of the drug and alcohol tests that were given including a chemical test his hands were tied because of mandatory minimum laws and gave him the minimum allowed.

Now more than 4.6 million people have signed a petition on Change.org to have the sentence commuted.

“Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, 26 has nothing on his driving record, or on his criminal history,” the petition reads. “This accident was not intentional, nor was it a criminal act on the driver’s part. No one but the trucking company he is/was employed by should be held accountable for this accident. No, we are not trying to make it seem any less of a tragic accident that it is because yes, lives were lost. We are trying to hold the person who needs to be held responsible, responsible. The trucking company has had several inspections since 2017, with several mechanical violations.”

Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos.

The Denver Channel reported that Castellano 03 Trucking had been hit with 30 safety violations, including for brake issues in the two years prior.

Prosecutors argued that Aguilera-Mederos could have taken steps to avoid the crash, including steering onto the runaway truck ramp he passed on the way down, or veering away from the stopped traffic.

Investigators were unable to check the condition of the brakes, as the truck was destroyed.

Speaking at his own trial, the tearful driver asked for leniency.

“I’m dying. It is hard to live with this trauma. I can’t sleep. I’m thinking all [the time] about the victims,” he said. “This was a terrible accident, I know. I take responsibility. But it was not intentional. I am not a criminal.”

One of the victim’s daughters even pleaded with the court to have mercy.

“I know I don’t get to have my dad for the rest of my life, but I hope that the defendant’s son can have his dad for the rest of his life,” she said, per Fox 31.

“There are many things Rogel could have done to avoid the courts, but he took responsibility showed up and severely apologised to the victims families,” the petition continues. “Some of the families even offered forgiveness. Rogel is not a criminal, the company he was working for knew the federal laws that go into truck driving but they failed to follow those laws.”

Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos.

“Rogel has said several times that he wishes he had the courage to crash and take his own life that day, this tragic accident wasn’t done with intent, it wasn’t a criminal act, it was an accident.”

Some truck drivers on social media are reportedly calling for a boycott on the state, and calling on other drivers not to work there.