Colorado’s court system is reviewing its own rules after it was found that a clerical mistake was to blame for the wrongful release of the prisoner now suspected of killing the state’s corrections head.
Evan Spencer Ebel wasn’t supposed to be let out of prison, court officials said, The Associated Press reported. He was supposed to serve eight years for an assault offense and then receive a second sentence up to four more years — but court paperwork didn’t specify the sentences had to be served consecutively, the AP said. So instead, Mr. Ebel served the sentences concurrently — at the same time.
Mr. Ebel was then let go at the end of his eight years.
And within two months, he was killed in a shootout with police — but not before Colorado corrections Director Tom Clements was fatally shot. Mr. Ebel is believed to have killed Mr. Clements, along with a pizza deliverer, Nathan Leon, the AP reported.
“The Colorado Department of Corrections values its long-standing partnership with the 11th Judicial District and the district attorney’s office to maintain order at the prisons in Canon City,” said a spokeswoman for Gov. John Hickenlooper, quoted by the AP. “We commend both the 11th Judicial District and the DOC for reviewing their own internal processes and procedures.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.