------------------------------------------------------------------
The Change.org petition asking for his commutation or clemency: Find it here.
------------------------------------------------------------------
RELEASE: Lava Media Founder Jason Flom Joins Millions Demanding That Colorado Governor Polis Intervene in Rogel Aguilera Case:
GIST: "On December 13, 26-year-old Rogel Aguilera was sentenced to 110 years in prison for his involvement in a 2019 automobile crash that killed four people. The accident occurred when the brakes failed on Aguilera’s semi-truck, causing him to crash into traffic that was stopped on Interstate 70 in Lakewood, Colorado.
Aguilera, a Cuban-American immigrant, was convicted of 27 criminal counts, including vehicular manslaughter. His 110-year sentence was not the result of reckless driving or driving while intoxicated, as the young man did neither of these things. Rather, it is the result of a justice system run amok and mandatory minimum sentences set by lawmakers. The judge who delivered the sentence actually acknowledged that he did not believe it was Aguilera’s intention to harm anyone, but he was required by law to issue 26 consecutive sentences.
Lava Media founder and criminal justice activist Jason Flom has joined the chorus of voices demanding Colorado Governor Jared Polis to pardon or greatly reduce the sentence for Aguilera.
“What happened in this incident was horrific, but it was a tragic accident and a review of the facts indicates that Rogel did nothing wrong,” said Flom. “The brakes on his truck failed and reports are that he had not received adequate training from his employer on how to respond in this type of emergency situation. Rogel’s case is a jarring reminder that mandatory minimum sentencing has no place in our criminal legal system.” "
The entire release can be read at:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGllVqqTNvtbWghNJRzrfhwmFTl
----------------------------------------------------------------
Footnote: Rogel Aguilera's Prosecutor Kayla Wildeman entered the following post on her personal facebook page. Davis Vanguard at the link below): "Get yourself a trial partner as great as Trevor Mortizky. He turned a brake shoe from a semi truck into a memento. What a special gift from truly a special person. I never asked for a new bff at work, let alone one that is old enough to be my father. (no offense [emoji]) but I sure am grateful this trial brought you into my career as both a colleague and a friend! Words will never convey how lucky I am to have gotten the opportunity to learn from you!"
Below the text, there is a photo of one of the brakes that failed on Aguilera-Mederos' truck. A trophy plaque plastered to the evidence states "Kayla Wildeman: Power Move" then "19CR 1608," which is the case's citation, and "I-70 Case."
I'm signing the petition now. HL.
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/9086776431723877399
------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: "I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
—————————————————————————————————
FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINAL, FINAL, FINAL WORD: "It is incredibly easy to convict an innocent person, but it's exceedingly difficult to undo such a devastating injustice.
Jennifer Givens: DirectorL UVA Innocence Project.
