Man Who Admitted To Hitting Police Officer Sentenced

DENVER (CBS4)- A man who admitted to hitting a Denver bicycle officer was sentenced on Friday.

Christopher Booker pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular assault and attempt to influence a public servant in October.

On Friday, he was sentenced to six years in a halfway house. The sentencing comes a year and one day after Booker hit Officer John Adsit as Adsit was escorting students back to East High School after a protest in December 2014.

"I thought the judge was very clear when he said that probation is not an appropriate sentence for this type of behavior, I was very happy to hear that," said Denver Assistant District Attorney Doug Jackson.

In court on Friday, Adsit turned to Booker and told him that he forgave him.

Investigators originally said Booker had a medical condition, but prosecutors charged him, saying he lied to the Division of Motor Vehicles in order to keep his driver's license. In August, Booker had entered a not guilty plea to the charges.

In court the judge told Booker that he had to take responsibility for his medical condition. It turns out that Booker was in denial about his epilepsy and that he had been having seizures since 1996.

Adsit was badly injured in the collision. He was dragged under the car and has undergone 16 surgeries and extensive rehab during an extended hospital stay.

Adsit's family said they agreed to the plea deal.

Booker's attorney said that the accident has disturbed his client. The accident injured a total of four officers.

"It has bothered him, it has haunted him for these many months. We're glad this issue is behind us, he continues to pray for the officers," said Booker's attorney Giancarlo Smalls.