Man sentenced to 60 years in prison
Rodela shot at 2 police officers in Longmont
A man accused of shooting at two Longmont school resource officers entered into a plea deal Monday and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Jesus Hilario Rodela Jr., 27, pleaded guilty Monday in Boulder District Court to two counts of first-degree assault on a peace officer naming Sgt. John Garcia and Officer Chris Borchowiec as victims.
As part of the plea agreement, attorneys agreed Rodela would be sentenced to 30 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for each count, to be served consecutively for a total of 60 years.
Colorado law allows for firstdegree assault on an officer to be charged even if the officer is not injured if the defendant “threatens with a deadly weapon a peace officer, firefighter or emergency medical service provider engaged in the performance of his or her duties, and the offender knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a peace officer, firefighter or emergency medical service provider acting in the performance of his or her duties.”
Boulder Deputy District Attorney Joshuah Lisk said the named victims in the case, including the two Longmont police officers, were consulted on the plea agreement.
“This 60-year sentence is appropriate based on the defendant’s criminal history and the actions that took place in this case,” Lisk said.
Monday was scheduled as the start of Rodela’s trial on the case after he initially entered a not guilty plea, but defense attorney Kathryn Herold said Rodela always wanted to accept responsibility and took what could be essentially a life sentence in order to do so.
“Mr. Rodela has wanted to take responsibility for his actions since day one,” Herold said. “He did not want to go to trial, he did not want to put anyone through a trial. He knew what happened that day was his fault.”
Rodela, who appeared at the hearing in custody, also spoke to the court.
“I just want to let the whole court know and the officers know in this situation, and the community and the children, I’m deeply sorry for what I did,” Rodela said. “I’m glad my lawyers and the DA could reach a resolution, so we didn’t have to go through that painstaking process (of a trial).”
According to an arrest affidavit, police were called to the 400 block of Baker Street at 2:19 p.m. Jan. 13, 2022, after a vehicle that had been reported stolen was spotted parked in an alley.
Officers ordered the two occupants of the vehicle to get out, and also ordered the occupants of a camper parked in the alley to surrender to police. One of the men who came out of the camper, later identified as Rodela, instead fled the scene while the other people were taken into custody.
Columbine Elementary School was placed on lockout while police searched the area for Rodela, who was reportedly seen by several residents running through yards.
According to the affidavit, Borchowiec found Rodela in the 600 block of Baker Street and Rodela fired a handgun at Borchowiec’s vehicle, striking the vehicle once.
Garcia also responded to the scene and saw Rodela run out into the street in front of him.
According to investigators, Garcia flashed the emergency lights on his undercover truck and made eye contact with Rodela. Rodela raised his handgun, and Garcia accelerated his truck and hit Rodela. Rodela fired a round, which struck the hood of the truck.
Garcia, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident, spoke in court at Monday’s hearing.
“The truth of that day is I am glad Mr. Rodela is OK and alive; my intent was never to kill him, but to prevent him from killing others,” said Garcia, who added that he has forgiven Rodela and holds “not even an ounce of animosity, ill will or hatred” toward him.
“That day does not have to define him,” Garcia added. “He has the opportunity to write his story still.”
Garcia also thanked Borchowiec for his actions in warning responding officers Rodela had fired a weapon.
“I’m indebted to you forever,” Garcia said. “I love you.”
Rodela in his statements thanked Garcia for his actions that day.
“I don’t know what I was thinking that day, honestly,” Rodela said. “I want to thank (Garcia), honestly, for hitting me with that truck. That was the best thing that happened to me in my life. No officer should have to endure what they went through.”
Boulder District Judge Patrick Butler accepted the terms of the plea agreement and issued the stipulated sentence.
“This clearly could have turned into a much more tragic event,” Butler told Rodela. “I hope that even though it’s a really long sentence, you try to make the best of everything you can from it.”
Longmont police Chief Jeff Satur credited the police work of Borchowiec and Garcia.
“They knowingly injected themselves into that situation and were going to that school to make sure the kids were safe and were so fortunate as an agency to have great school resource officers,” Satur said. “We have great support from the St. Vrain Valley School District, and Longmont is fortunate to have officers of this caliber who care so much about the community and the children.”
Satur also thanked prosecutors for helping to send a message condemning violence against police.
“People need to stop resorting to violence against police and others,” Satur said, referring to the recent death of an officer in Fountain and the shooting of a K-9 in Golden. “People need to understand there are going to be severe consequences and long prison terms when you use guns or violence toward others, and I appreciate our DA’S Office for all the work they did on this case, and I know it was as important to them as it was to our officers.”
Added Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty, “The victim officers had responded quickly and courageously to protect community members in Longmont. They faced direct gunfire from this defendant. The defendant put their lives, and the lives of community members, at serious risk. This lengthy sentence is the right outcome, based on his dangerous and violent conduct as well as his criminal history. I appreciate the work of the Longmont Police Department and the prosecution team in securing this sentence.”