Former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis was sentenced to two years of probation and 150 hours of community service on Friday following her conviction on four felony charges.
Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, was convicted in January of three counts of forgery and one count of attempting to influence a public servant. Jaquez Lewis ܲٳٱfaked letters of support to the Senate Ethics Committee last year as it investigated her treatment of aides.
During sentencing in Denver District Court, Jaquez Lewis acknowledged making “bad decisions” and maintained that the letters of support, which she wrote but signed with other people’s names, were a simple mistake. She also characterized the process as politically motivated.
“I hope that this case doesn’t discourage any future leaders from stepping up for public service,” Jaquez Lewis said. “I also hope this case does not embolden legislative leaders from settling political scores in a district courtroom.”
Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Nitido, who prosecuted the case, said it was not about the alleged ethics violations, but about Jaquez Lewis’ response to it.
Because she was a public servant, he asked for an “extreme” amount of community service.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Anita M. Schutte noted Jaquez Lewis broke bonds of trust, and she also called out Jaquez Lewis for not taking more responsibility. In addition to supervised probation and mandatory community service, she fined Jaquez Lewis $3,000, which may be waived if Jaquez Lewis completes an additional 100 hours of community service.
“I don’t find it credible that this was a simple mistake, and certainly the jury did not find that you did not intend to commit these acts,” Schutte said. “… That lack of responsibility, both in your testimony and your statement here today, by indicating it was a simple mistake, is somewhat concerning to me.”
