Colorado man sentenced to life in prison for DUI that killed Air Force veteran, injured his children

A Colorado man who killed an Air Force veteran while driving drunk last year will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was identified guilty of first-degree murder Paul Stephenson of Castle Rock was convicted in April of killing USAF Lt Col Matt Anderson and injuring his four children after he crashed his truck into their bus while driving drunk in August Stephenson was sentenced to life in prison plus years Anderson was stopped at a -Eleven gas station with his family following a trip to the Douglas County Fair when he was killed according to the rd Judicial District Attorney s Office His wife was walking into the store when Stephenson drove his Chevy Silverado into their bus ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED IN MPH DUI CRASH THAT KILLED WASHINGTON STATE TROOPER While in court Stephenson admitted to drinking a bottle of fireball whiskey and two beers before driving and his blood alcohol level was times the legal limit the DA's office noted Stephenson racked up his third DUI conviction when he was uncovered guilty of killing Anderson District Attorney George Brauchler commented his office pursued the first-degree murder charge to send a message to drunk drivers in Douglas County Brauchler who prosecuted the situation explained it is a bitter coincidence that justice was handed down against Anderson's killer one day before July Fourth REPUBLICAN DA BUCKS BLUE STATE'S 'BROKEN SENTENCING' WITH TOUGH-ON-CRIME APPROACH It is a bitter coincidence that the day before we celebrate our nation s independence we have to confront the loss of one of America s great Patriots who died Not at the hands of the enemy But by the selfish conduct of one of us Bruachler mentioned The only appropriate sentence in this situation is the one that will prevent things like this from happening again by scaring the hell out of those who would engage in similar behavior Brauchler acknowledged that Douglas County is the the majority aggressive on drunk drivers compared to other jurisdictions in the area Anderson's father noted the verdict gives their family a small amount of closure and thanked the agencies involved in handing the sentence down Senior Deputy District Attorney Nate Marsh commended the jury's decision and mentioned it reflected how serious it is to drive drunk The defendant cared only about himself and demonstrated a complete disregard for the value of human life This was murder in the first degree-extreme indifference and the jury agreed His life sentence will ensure he cannot rip anyone else from their family Marsh announced