Trinadie Xander Lopez, 20, was sentenced Thursday to six years in the Colorado Department of Corrections Youthful Offenders System and 12 months probation after last year’s street shooting that severely injured bystander Josilyn Mark, 19.
Noah Farrar allegedly was the target.
The sentencing, which was scheduled for the end of October, was reset to Thursday morning after one of the provisions in the plea agreement had not been met. According to 22nd Judicial Disitrict Chief Judge Todd Plewe, the plea agreement had stipulated that Lopez would give a “full and accurate account” of the events that took place on Sept. 15, 2023.
He pleaded guilty to felony menacing Aug. 27.
District Attorney Christian Hatfield and defense attorney Kent Pace told Plewe that Lopez was able to give that account on Tuesday and everyone was “satisfied” with his account.
“I tend to believe him and know more than before,” Hatfield said, adding that now he was more convinced that Lopez was not the one who fired the gun that day.
Eva Martinez, Mark’s grandmother, addressed Plewe, telling the court that it’s been “a journey” since the night Mark was shot.
“They had to save her life,” she said.
Mark, who had just graduated from high school and was preparing for the Army, soon found herself fighting for her life. Now, she is suffering mental, physical and emotional pain. She is missing a portion of her leg and is still undergoing treatment, Martinez said.
Martinez added that Mark is “a different girl” who is “fearful and trusts no one.” She asked the court to be “mindful of what she went through” and will continue to experience for the rest of her life because of the shooting.
She also addressed Lopez.
“My heart breaks for you, too,” she said, acknowledging that he wasn’t the only one in the car. “You destroyed a life no matter what part you took in it.”
Pace spoke next, once again alleging that Lopez was the target of “gang activity.” He told Plewe that the group in question had threatened Lopez before and that Lopez believed that his life “was in danger.”
“That does not justify him bringing an assault rifle when the people he was with were planning on using it,” Pace said.
He added that Lopez wasn’t a “fully formed adult” and that he didn’t have previous criminal history “of any significance.” Since the shooting, Lopez has been working toward his GED.
“Mr. Lopez, I think, deserves a second chance,” Pace said.
Pace then ended his comments by reading a letter of apology Lopez wrote to Mark and the community.
“I pray to God she can forgive me someday,” the letter said. Lopez also expressed his desire to be a better example for his brothers and sisters.
Lopez’s family addressed the court next, with his sister, mother, girlfriend, grandmothers and grandfather speaking to Plewe.
His family detailed their relationship with Lopez, sharing that being without him had been difficult for them. They said he is a “good person.”
“It’s really hard to see my son like this,” Lopez’s mother said.
Lopez followed his family, apologizing first to Mark and Martinez.
“I pray every day that Josilyn’s leg heals,” he said. “I just want to apologize to everyone.”
He also addressed the others who had been in the vehicle the night of the shooting, saying he wished that they would take responsibility for “their part.”
“I wish I could go back to that day and take it back, but I can’t,” he said.
Plewe said he believed Lopez that he wasn’t the one who fired the weapon, but that he would still have to bear the consequences for bringing the gun. He said he had seen Mark’s “horrific” injuries.
“She almost died,” Plewe said. “She is physically and mentally harmed for life. … You chose that day to get an assault rifle and put it in the vehicle.”
Mark will be “disabled to some degree for life” and the community was “damaged,” Plewe said.
Plewe then addressed Hatfield, saying that he was concerned that Delsin Freeman had not been charged, though he remains in federal custody. He asked Hatfield if charges would come in Freeman’s part of the case.
“It may come to pass or it may not come to pass,” Hatfield said.
Plewe sentenced Lopez to six years in the Colorado DOC Youth Offenders System, saying that he believed a six-year sentence was “appropriate.” After the six years, he will have 12 months of probation. Lopez will receive credit of time already served, which amounts to 111 days.
He urged Lopez to “take advantage of everything they offer and change your life.”
