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  A Colorado officer who was convicted of the murder of Elijah McClain – a young Black male – is waiting for his sentencing. It could include prison time or probation.
  
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  Randy Roedema is the only officer convicted of the three officers charged with McClain’s death in 2019.
  
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  Roedema has been convicted for criminally negligent murder and third-degree assault.
  

A Colorado officer who was convicted of the murder of Elijah McClain – a young Black male walking home from the store – is expected to find out Friday if he’ll be sentenced to prison or probation.

McClain’s mom may also speak at sentencing.

Randy Roedema, the senior officer that responded first to the scene of McClain’s death in 2019, was the only one convicted. In October, a jury found the former Aurora police officer guilty of criminally negligent murder, a felony. They also found him guilty of third-degree assault.

COLORADO OFFICER FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING ELIJAH MCCLAIN DURING VIOLENT POLICE ENCOUNTER

McClain’s death received little attention when it happened, but gained renewed attention the following year after mass protests spread across the country in response to the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. McClain’s killing became a rallying call for critics of racism in police.

Two paramedics have been convicted in a separate case for giving a 23-year old McClain an overdose after the police had him restrained by his neck. The paramedics who were trained to administer ketamine for “excited delirium” — a condition that some claim is unscientific and rooted in racism — will be sentenced later this year.

McClain’s arrest was made by the police after a 911 operator reported that McClain looked suspicious. McClain was restrained and struggled for 20 minutes by paramedics after another officer grabbed his hands. Experts believe the sedative killed McClain. He was already weak from trying to breathe while being pinned and after inhaling vomit.

Roedema’s criminally negligent murder, which is defined as killing someone without recognizing a significant risk to their lives, can result in a sentence of probation or up to three-years imprisonment. A conviction for assault is punishable with probation or up to two-years in prison.

2ND POLICE OFFICER ACCUSED IN THE DEATH of ELIJAH MCCLAIN WHO WAS PUSHED IN A NECK HELD AND GIVEN KETAMINE

George Brauchler, former district attorney, stated that Judge Mark Warner will determine the appropriate sentence by comparing this case to other homicide cases he has handled in his 20-year career. Brauchler explained that a first conviction could lead to probation. However, the judge would also have to consider Roedema’s status as a uniformed officer who was given special respect and authority by society.

Brauchler, the prosecutor in the 2012 Aurora theater shootings case, said: “I don’t understand how this person is going to get home that night.” “I don’t think that would be easy.”

Brauchler stated that even if Warner decides to place Roedema under probation, he can require him to first spend up to 90 day in jail as part of this sentence.

Roedema will likely serve his sentences for both the assault and the homicide charges at the same time. They won’t be back-to-back, as they are the same crimes. According to the prison rules, Roedema would be eligible for parole after a year, and likely sent to halfway house prior to that.

Roedema held McClain while paramedics administered ketamine. Roedema was visible on the body-camera footage that jurors saw repeatedly, and he could be heard telling others how to restrain McClain.

The same jury which convicted Roedema also acquitted Jason Rosenblatt. His lawyers argued that Rosenblatt was not close to McClain at the time ketamine injections were administered.

After Woodyard testified that McClain was briefly rendered unconscious by his neck hold, a different jury found him not guilty a few days later. Woodyard said he was afraid for his life when Roedema told him that McClain grabbed one of the guns. The gun grab was never reported by prosecutors.

Jeremy Cooper, a paramedic with Aurora Fire Rescue, and Peter Cichuniec have been convicted of felony second-degree assault. Cichuniec was found guilty on the most serious charge facing any first responder: felony assault of second degree. The mandatory sentence is between 5 and 16 years of prison.

Sheneen McClain said in a statement following the final verdicts that three of the five defendants being convicted is not justice but merely “a small acknowledgement of accountability within the justice system.”

“At least 20 people were there when my son was still alive and speaking before he brutally killed.” She said that the Aurora Colorado Police Department and Fire Department had everyone else working for them because they lacked humanity and refused to admit their inhumane protocol.

COLORADO JURY TO HEAR CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN TRIAL OVER THE 2019 DEATH OF ELIJAH MCCLAIN

The paramedics verdicts were delivered a day after a Washington State jury cleared three police officers from all criminal charges for the death of Manuel Ellis in 2020. Ellis was a Black male who had been shocked, beaten, and restrained while he begged for breath.

Candace McCoy is professor emerita of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She does not believe that recent acquittals in Colorado or New York are a sign of waning reform efforts. She said that it was a reflection on how difficult it is to convict police officers for crimes, because jurors are inclined to give them benefit of doubt when they behave in an emergency.

She said that while it was rare in the past to prosecute law enforcement cases, the fact more are being pursued today is not enough to bring about police reform.

McCoy stated that individual prosecutions would not be enough to reform and change the police.