Can we say "almost a darwin award"?
TheDenverChannel.com
Assault On Police Sends Teen To Jail
Teen Pleads Guilty To Third-Degree Assault
POSTED: 7:43 pm MDT October 13, 2007
BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- A Broomfield High School champion wrestler, who faced up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine for an Airsoft assault on an off-duty police officer, has been sentenced to a weekend in jail, one year of probation and 100 hours of community service.
Cory Casady faced charges of reckless endangerment and felony menacing for the April 9 assault on Thornton police Officer Shawn Walsh near Broomfield High School. Casady pleaded guilty to third-degree misdemeanor assault as part of a plea deal reached in September.
Judge Amy Bockman on Friday said the sentence was part of helping Casady learn impulse control.
Police said Casady passed Walsh in a car, brandished the replica gun and fired it twice -- striking Walsh once in the temple. Airsoft guns, many which are made to resemble weapons, fire plastic BBs at high speeds.
"This was clearly just a really stupid decision," Bockman told Casady before handing down the sentence. "I can only imagine what was going through (the officer's) mind when he was struck in the temple by what he believed was a real bullet."
Broomfield District Attorney Jim Colgan said Walsh, who did not speak at the hearing, objected to the plea agreement.
"He wasn't too happy about the plea," he said. "I think he felt like this was felony conduct."
During the hearing, Casady's only comment at the sentencing was to apologize to the people in his car for putting them in danger.
Casady's attorney, Craig Johnson, said Casady realizes Walsh could have killed him if he defended himself with his service weapon.
