Man Who Crashed Into Bus Stop On Colfax Headed To Prison
DENVER (CBS4) - A man who admitted to smashing his car into a crowded bus stop on East Colfax Avenue and then fleeing is going to prison.
The crash injured three people last July. CBS4 was on hand as police arrested Mark Skipper the following day after his girlfriend called police.
Skipper pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced Thursday morning. The judge gave him the maximum of 6 years in prison, 3 years parole and a credit for 273 days already served.
Skipper's lawyer explained that his client suffers from addiction and is trying to get the help he needs. He said that since being imprisoned Skipper has taken drug and alcohol courses and he asked the judge to sentence Skipper to the minimum of 2 years.
The prosecution responded by pointing out Skipper has been convicted of eight other felonies and in those cases often times only served probation or community corrections and that it was now time for a prison sentence .
The prosecution went on to read a letter from the victim most seriously hurt. In that statement the victim said he couldn't even make it to court because of how much pain he's in and that his life has been changed permanently.
"An hour and half after the accident he was laying on his girlfriend's bed sleeping while everyone else and the Denver Police Department were looking for a person who was driving," Denver Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Melnick said. "So that's after having the history that he did, but leaving the scene of an accident is a very serious offense. The biggest thing is that if you stay there the difference is going to be huge."
"All I can tell you is that, again, he feels deep regret and is very sorry for what he did and he wanted to communicate that today," Skipper's friend David Bolt said. "He's a deep man of faith, so he'd say he would only answer to his lord."
Skipper decided to speak in court. He said he accepted responsibility for his actions. But the judge came down hard and said leaving the scene of the crime was cowardly and he had pay for what he did.
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