MERCY! Kim Kardashian joins calls to have Rogel Aguilera-Mederos' 110-year sentence reduced
Kim Kardashian has extended her support to the truck driver, whose 18-wheeler plowed into traffic in Colorado, killing four innocent lives in April 2019. The then 23-year-old Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was found guilty of vehicular homicide and reckless driving.
Six months later, the jury found him guilty for a total of 26 counts including the ones mentioned above and in December 2019, a judge sentenced Mederos to a minimum of 110 years in prison.
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Joining millions in seeking clemency for the young father, Kim Kardashian, who has been studying law and often voices her opinion on prison reform, used her social media platforms to help get justice for over 10 federal prisoners. With over 271 million Instagram followers, Kim 'took a deep dive in it to figure out what the situation is.'
On her Instagram stories on Tuesday, she said, "He was not drunk or under the influence; his brakes on the tractor-trailer failed." In the next story, 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." The owner of KKW Fragrances added, "However, because of the mandatory minimums in Colorado, his hands were tied. Mandatory minimums take away judicial discretion and need to end."
She further added, "Colorado law really has to be changed and this is so unfair." This Keeping Up With the Kardashians star also added that Governor Jared Polis 'is a really good person' and she knows 'he will do the right thing.'
Kim Kardashian then came across a post shared by the opposing counsel where they were seen celebrating with a brake shoe trophy that she received as a gift. In her post, opposing lawyer Kayla Wilderman, wrote, "Get yourself a trial partner as great as Trevor Moritzky. He turned a brake shoe from a semi truck into a memento. What a special gift from a truly special person."
Currently, a Change.org petition for offering commutation or clemency to Rogel Mederos has received over 46,00,000 signatures.
How did it all go down?
On April 25, 2019, Aguilera-Mederos was driving a semi-truck, specifically an 18-wheeler, to Colorado. He was driving along Interstate 70 in Lakewood. Reportedly, he slammed into around two dozen vehicles as it was during the rush-hour traffic. This caused a fiery explosion and resulted in the loss of four lives.
After the jury found him guilty, the judge sentenced Rogel to 110 years in prison. During the sentencing in 2019, Rogel who was 23 then, burst into tears and said, "I am not a criminal. I am not a murderer. I am not a killer. When I look at my charges, we are talking about a murderer, which is not me. I have never thought about hurting anybody in my entire life."
He further added that the brakes of his truck failed which resulted in the explosion. "It's hard. This was a terrible accident, I know. I take the responsibility, but it was an accident", Rogel added. "The accident - it wasn't intentional, it wasn't intentional, Your Honor. I did all that I can as a man. I put myself in harm's way to avoid harming anyone else." Rogel also said that he did not flee 'because I respect the laws.' 'I want to say sorry, sorry for the loss, sorry for the people injured. 'I ask ... God many times why them and not me.' Rogel concluded.