DenverChief |
06-22-2006 04:05 PM |
Gomez-Garcia's friend gets 12 years in prison
A man who helped accused cop killer Raul Gomez-Garcia flee Denver was sentenced to the maximum 12 years in prison Friday as an accessory to murder.
Jaime Arana del Angel helped his friend by burying the murder weapon and leading him out of town on Interstate 70, showing him the way to Las Vegas and California.
But his assistance had "extraordinary, almost mind-boggling" repercussions, said prosecutor Bruce Levin.
It cost prosecutors the chance to try Gomez-Garcia for first-degree murder and seek the death penalty for the murder of Denver police officer Donnie Young. Ultimately Gomez-Garcia went to Mexico and couldn't be extradited until prosecutors agreed to try him on a lesser charge of second-degree murder.
"Because of this, Mr. Gomez-Garcia escapes, in my opinion, true justice," Levin said.
Young's widow, Kelly Young, seconded his words.
"If he had been caught here, then definitely the death penalty would be what he deserved," Kelly Young said.
"Donnie was given a life sentence that night. (Arana del Angel) will get out and go back to his family. Donnie's not ever coming home."
Defense attorney Frank Moya said his client helped the accused shooter escape because he was afraid of him. He also said Gomez-Garcia would likely have fled without his client's help.
As part of a plea bargain, Arana del Angel, 28, must testify against Gomez-Garcia, 21, who will stand trial in Young's death as well as shooting and injuring his partner, Jack Bishop, on May 8, 2005.
The two officers were working off-duty security at the Salon Ocampo banquet hall for a baptismal party when they turned away Gomez-Garcia and three other men who tried to get into the party without invitations.
Gomez-Garcia returned to the hall and shot both officers.
Arana del Angel apologized through an interpreter at the sentencing hearing.
Bishop said he was satisfied with the sentencing. "Nothing can ever change that night, but justice has been served."
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