A 24-year-old who struck and killed a Denver Post reporter while driving drunk is set to be released from prison in the coming days.
Jesus Carreno was placed on six years’ probation Monday after serving 126 days in prison for the Aug. 31 death of Colleen O’Connor, 60. He had to one count of vehicular homicide-reckless driving and one count of driving under the influence.
Carreno was given the chance to have his sentence reduced if he stayed out of trouble while in custody of the state Department of Corrections. Judge Sheila A. Rappaport on Monday granted his release and placed him on six years of probation, which means he must report regularly to a probation officer, avoid arrests and pass routine drug and alcohol tests.
Carreno has been housed at the Trinidad Correctional Institute. It is unclear when he will be released because of Tuesday’s federal holiday.
He appeared in court Monday in a dark green prison uniform. As they have in every previous hearing, Carreno’s parents sat in the courtroom, and he smiled and waved to them as he was escorted out by sheriff’s deputies.
Carreno had a blood-alcohol content level of .206 percent, which is four times the legal limit for driving, when he struck O’Connor at the intersection of First Avenue and Downing Street. O’Connor had been on her way home from an evening walk, and he was driving home from a Rockies baseball game.
During a tearful sentencing hearing in March,
“This traumatizing event I’ll regret with all of my being and for the rest of my life,” he said during the sentencing hearing. “The only thing I can do is take full responsibility for the irresponsible decision I made in the first place to drive intoxicated. I’m heartbroken, and I’m heartbroken for every one of you.”
O’Connor, who had worked at The Post for 12 years, was known by colleagues for her intellectual curiosity, compassion and respect for the people she wrote about. She told stories about Syrian refugees, gay marriage and some of Denver’s most poor residents.
She also enjoyed knitting, long walks, riding her bicycle and reading. She was especially close to her sister, Carol O’Casey of Oregon. She also is survived by her mother.
