A 6th Judicial District Court judge sentenced a La Plata County woman to 10 years in prison Thursday after she admitted to running over her cousin with a truck, almost killing him.<\/p>\n
Katrina Baker, 28, told law enforcement the night of her arrest that she hit Arlan Vicenti, 35, \u201con purpose,\u201d a sheriff\u2019s deputy wrote in arresting documents. Prosecutors charged Baker with attempted first-degree murder, vehicular assault, driving under the influence and first-degree assault.<\/p>\n
Baker pleaded guilty to vehicular assault, a Class 4 felony punishable by two to six years in prison and a fine of $2,000 to $500,000. But the maximum can be as high as 12 years if a judge finds \u201cextraordinary aggravating circumstances.\u201d Prosecutors wrote in the plea agreement that Baker\u2019s five prior DUI-related convictions met the standard for a harsher sentence.<\/p>\n
The plea agreement capped the maximum possible sentence at 10 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust looking at the facts of this case, there\u2019s no question that you could have been convicted of attempted second-degree murder,\u201d District Court Judge Suzanne Carlson said in her sentencing order. \u201cThe maximum I can give you is 10 years \u2013 but there\u2019s an argument that it should be more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The incident occurred at 1:40 a.m. Dec. 30, 2018, at the Sonoco Gas Station, 28870 U.S. Highway 160 in the Grandview area, a few miles east of downtown Durango.<\/p>\n
A Flight for Life helicopter flew Vicenti to a hospital in Denver with internal injuries after the crash<\/a>, including broken ribs and damage to his internal organs, according to statements made at Thursday\u2019s sentencing hearing. Vicenti, who Baker said she considered a brother, appeared in court Thursday to offer a statement.<\/p>\n