CANON CITY, Colo.—A man who pleaded guilty to a shooting spree that killed a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy in 2001 has lost one bid to reduce his sentence, but he is still challenging his murder conviction.
Joel Stovall argued at a hearing in September that his sentence to life, plus 896 years in prison was illegal, but a judge disagreed in a ruling Wednesday.
Stovall and his twin brother, Michael, were 24 when they pleaded guilty in November 2001 to one count of first-degree murder, 18 counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated robbery after a shooting spree Sept. 28, 2001.
The spree killed sheriff’s Deputy Jason Schwartz, partially paralyzed Florence police Cpl. Toby Bethel and wounded a third officer.
Schwartz, 26, was trying to take the brothers to jail after a dog was shot and killed in Penrose. Authorities said Michael Stovall used a key to remove his handcuffs, then shot the deputy with two handguns hidden in his pants.
Police said the brothers stole a pickup truck in Florence and fled, injuring Bethel before their arrests the next day.
Joel Stovall argues that his guilty plea was improperly coerced by his defense counsel. His challenge of his murder conviction is pending.
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Information from: Canon City Daily Record,
