In all Anthony Eagle had six prior alcohol offenses dating back to 1994.
WELD COUNTY, Colo. — A Fort Lupton man who drove drunk and killed another man while on probation for a previous DUI was sentenced to more than four decades in prison.
In February, Anthony Eagle, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence – fourth or subsequent offense, second-degree murder, and second-degree kidnapping related to the 2022 deadly crash in Weld County.
On Nov. 2, 2022, emergency crews were called to a crash on Weld County Road 16 and Weld County Road 19 involving two vehicles. According to prosecutors, Eagle caused the crash that killed Jesus Rios, 38, of Lafayette who left behind two daughters.
“My life completely changed for the worse,” one daughter said during Friday’s sentencing hearing. “He was the light in my world. For my high school graduation, a picture was all I was able to have. Never in a million years did I think I would have to close a casket on my dad.”
Shortly after the crash, a good Samaritan pulled over to help. When he got out of his truck to assist, Eagle got into it and began driving away with the man’s 15-year-old daughter still inside.
The teen jumped out of the moving vehicle before Eagle crashed that vehicle, prosecutors said.
During the sentencing hearing, the good Samaritan addressed the court.
“Every single day, sometimes twice a day, I drive past a cross,” the good Samaritan said. “Every time I drive by it, my heart sinks. Maybe keep harmful people locked up instead of a slap on the wrist. There’s no reason why this man should have been out on bond.”
At the time of the fatal Weld County crash, Eagle was on probation for a previous drunk driving offense in Adams County in May of 2022. In all, he had six prior alcohol-related driving convictions in other jurisdictions including Adams, Jefferson, Clear Creek, Denver, and Arapahoe Counties dating back to 1994.
“The facts of this case are some of the most egregious I’ve ever seen in my career as a prosecutor,” Deputy District Attorney Katherine Fitzgerald said. “Not only are the facts aggravating, but his criminal history is also extremely aggravating. This man should have never been given this many chances to get behind the wheel. It’s an understatement when I say his actions were selfish and that the results were horrific and heartbreaking. I want our Weld County community to know that this type of behavior is not, and will not, be tolerated.”
As part of Eagle’s plea agreement, he faced 35 to 45 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
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