Christopher Booker, who hid his medical condition to get a driver’s license and later drove into a group of Denver police officers, pleaded guilty to two felony charges Thursday.
As part of an agreement, Booker, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular assault and attempting to influence a public servant, both felonies. Prosecutors will drop the 14 other charges filed against Booker, including forgery and assault.
Booker faces a sentencing range of probation to up to nine years in prison.
On Dec. 3, Booker drove into a group of four Denver police officers during an East High School student protest along East Colfax Avenue near Williams Street. One of the students who witnessed the crash told The Denver Post he saw Booker convulsing in his car after striking the officers.
The collision left Officer John Adsit in . Adsit, a nine-year veteran of the department, underwent 11 surgeries to repair crushed ribs, a punctured lung, a severed artery in his leg, a broken femur and a cracked pelvis.
The officer, who had been escorting the protesters on a bicycle, was dragged more than a dozen yards under the black Mercedes that Booker was driving.
Investigators later learned that Booker had a . He did not disclose his conditions when applying for multiple driver’s licenses between 2006 and 2015.
Prosecutors argued that Booker knew he suffered from a medical condition that made it unsafe for him to drive, but he made the reckless decision to drive the car that hit and injured Adsit.
On Thursday, the judge accepted Booker’s plea and set a sentencing hearing for Dec. 4.
During Thursday’s hearing, Booker stood with straight shoulders and listened to the judge’s advisements.
Adsit and others will have an opportunity to address the judge during the sentencing hearing. Booker also may make a statement.
The judge will have sole discretion in deciding Booker’s sentence.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen@denverpost.com or @jsteffendp
