Killers or Kids?

For those of you who missed the series on kids in prison in the Denver Post last year, you can access it here. We thank Mary Ellen Johnson from the Pendulum Foundation for her tireless work in trying to reduce the sentences for kids in Colorado.

Charles “Chuck” Limbrick Jr.’s childhood ended when he was 15 years old.

That’s when he shot his mother. A witness testified that he shot her twice with a .357 Magnum revolver. First in the hand, then in the head.

It was the defining moment in the Colorado Springs teenager’s life, transforming him from just another high schooler into a serious criminal who would eventually interest politicians, activists and lawyers.

He was tried as an adult for the 1988 crime, convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. He was the youngest person in Colorado sent to an adult prison.

When he prosecuted Limbrick, John Suthers was the recently elected district attorney for the 4th Judicial District, which includes El Paso and Teller counties.

Suthers prosecuted 51 juveniles as adults during his first four-year term, more than twice as many as were tried in the previous four years. His no-nonsense reputation has vaulted him into the office of state attorney general, to which he was elected in 2005.

In addition to trying juveniles as adults with gusto when he was district attorney, Suthers also worked to toughen laws aimed at young criminals. He helped write several bills subjecting violent youth to tougher treatment.

So he seems the law enforcement official least likely to stick his neck out for a man convicted of killing his mother.

Yet in 1996, while still a DA, Suthers urged Gov. Roy Romer to grant Limbrick a limited commutation — a chance for an earlier parole hearing and, perhaps, an early release.

Interviewed a decade later, Suthers cited several reasons for recommending leniency in Limbrick’s case even though he had served only six years.

One was that long before he reached the 40-year minimum of his sentence, Limbrick would have reached an age when violent behavior dramatically decreases, Suthers said.

Another was that Limbrick’s family had forgiven him and wanted to see him free. And Suthers said Limbrick’s prison record was good.
There was one other factor: Limbrick’s age at the time of his crime.

“I felt like Chuck had potential,” Suthers said. “This was a sad case, as heinous as the crime is.” Colorado Springs Gazette