In March 2024, Aurora Paramedic Peter Cichuniec was sentenced to five years in prison for criminal negligence in the death of Elijah McClain in 2019.

However, a judge last week changed this sentence to four years of probation instead of prison time. Cichuniec served only 119 days in prison and cited exceptional circumstances when his attorney requested a sentence reduction in June.

Adams County District Judge Marker Warner, who has presided over the Elijah McClain trials, said, “Cichuniec’s lack of previous criminal history, rehabilitative potential, good character and his previous “pro-social” history, his overall role in the events that led up to McClain death” as the reason for his new ruling.

This decision disappointed the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, which had worked to prosecute the case and disagreed with the June 2024 request to reduce the sentence.

Elijah McClain died in 2019 after being confronted by police while walking home on a summer night. He was wearing a ski mask, and a passerby saw McClain. He thought his action was suspicious and reported it to the police. The police showed no mercy to this young and the paramedics displayed no individual judgment when assessing the situation.

Here is how Adams County District Judge Mark Warner has handled the McClain convictions:

Policeman Randy Roedema, charged with criminally negligent homicide, is serving 14 months in a county jail through a work release program. And will serve four years of probation.

Judge Warner said his decision was “influenced both by the officer’s indifference and his “good character” and the likelihood of his rehabilitation.

Policeman Nathan Woodyard was found not guilty to charges of reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. He was able for job reinstatement but chose to resign and receive backpay of nearly $213,000 while suspended, $200,000 from the City of Aurora for “back pay, accrued leave-time and other considerations that included not suing the City and $17,000 to cover medical insurance for one year.

Fired Policeman Jason Rosenblatt, charged with reckless manslaughter, was acquitted by the jury.

Paramedic Jeremy Cooper was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in December 2023 and was sentenced to four years of probation.

What’s the purpose of having stricter accountability, training improvements, community engagement,

policy reform or mental health resource–  actions that could help create safer interactions between law enforcement and the community, potentially preventing tragic outcomes like the one involving Elijah McClain– especially when systemic changes are proposed to address issues, but individual judicial decisions seem to undermine those efforts.