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LULAC Denounces Brake Trophy Given To Prosecutor In 110-Year Sentence Of Latino

Nation’s Largest and Oldest Latino Civil Rights Organization Demands Disciplinary Action Over Office Celebration

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today called for immediate disciplinary action and a formal apology for the handing out of a congratulatory trophy to a member of the prosecuting team in the case of Rogel Aguilera-Mederos. 
He is the 26-year-old Latino truck driver convicted and sentenced to a mandatory 110-years for the deaths of four people who perished in a traffic mishap on the 1-70 in April 2019. Mederos stated the brakes to his tractor-trailer loaded with lumber failed and he was unable to stop in time to avert the collision. However, a jury determined Mederos was guilty of first-degree assault and attempted first-degree assault. These are considered “crimes of violence” and the judge in the case said he was mandated to assess a prison sentence of a century-plus-a-decade.

Domingo Garcia - LULAC National President
“To say we are disgusted over this so-called trophy is an understatement. LULAC demands a full investigation into the matter to identify the people who are involved so that they face the maximum disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. To mock the seriousness of this case diminishes the loss of four lives as well as the pain suffered by everyone affected by this tragedy. This trophy is evidence of the total lack of respect and basic human decency by the district attorney and her team in this matter. They are dancing on the graves of the victims and showing their glee that a man faces a sentence equal to three generations in an unjust verdict. Professionalism is clearly lacking in this District Attorney's office.”

Sonny Subia - LULAC Colorado State Director
“As Coloradoans, we pride ourselves as people who believe in human dignity and respect for everyone. There simply is no place in our judicial system for this kind of misbehavior and total callousness. The use of a brake component is at the very core of a still-ongoing legal process that will be argued in an appeal. This trophy scoffs at Mr. Mederos’ defense and his constitutional right to due process. The lives of human beings are nothing to joke about or in any way make light of what happened on that freeway two-and-a-half-years ago. I am certain there is not a day that goes by that the loved ones of all touched by that crash do not have to relive some aspect of it. We should respect them and call this trophy what it is; sick and inappropriate.”

Leonard Martinez – Attorney for Rogel Aguilera-Mederos
“To make any kind of mockery or behave as if this was a ball game of winning and losing is an outrage. This was about four people losing their lives and another person facing the prospect of a 110-year prison sentence.. It is very disappointing but not surprising that the district attorney in this case would allow this to happen given the background of this matter, the legal process itself and the way my client was treated. She should take the necessary steps to discipline those involved and apologize to those impacted.”

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/