In 2000, Rene Lima-Marin made a felonious mistake that very well may cost him his life. A then-20-year-old Lima-Marin robbed a pair of Aurora, CO video stores at gunpoint with an accomplice. After being convicted on eight charges, a judge showed no mercy and sentenced him to consecutive sentences which totaled 98 years.
Understandably, a court clerk thought the sentences were to be ran concurrently with one another and Lima-Marin was freed in 2008 after serving eight years in prison.
Taking heed to the corrections aspect of being an inmate, the now 35-year-old Lima-Marin turned his life around, reportedly volunteering at the church and coaching soccer games. He also reconnected with a past girlfriend, Jasmine while helping her raise a son from a previous relationship and conceiving another together four years ago. The two were also married this past July.
Now his six years of newfound freedom has been halted after the system have spotted the clerical error. Officials took Lima-Marin into custody to serve out the remainder of his sentence this past January.
A tug-o-war battle for Lima-Marin’s freedom has ensued, with both sides citing various sections of the law for their arguments.
Patrick Megaro, Lima-Marin’s attorney, blasted the Colorado Court of Appeals in a statement, stating that his client returning to prison would constitute as cruel and unusual punishment.
“Lima-Marin functioned as a member of society, no different than his neighbors, entirely unaware that Colorado would someday rip him from his home and family and upend a life he took years to build,” he wrote.
Rich Orman, an Arapahoe County senior deputy district attorney, was unintimidated and feels Lima-Marin is exactly where he is supposed to be. “He should go back because the law requires the sentence he received. This was a number of very serious criminal offenses, and anything less would be inappropriate,” Orman told CBS. “He should not be able to escape the minimum sentence due to a clerical error.”
Megaro has a solid track record for these type of cases so we shall see how everything pans out.
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Photo: Fox 13 Colorado
