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School’s co-founder sentenced
November 20, 2007
By Debbie Bell
Contending to the end he had done
nothing wrong, Randall Hinton was sentenced Monday to 25 days jail
and one-year probation for his convictions of third-degree assault
and false imprisonment against Royal Gorge Academy students.
Deputy District Attorney Thom
LeDoux read pre-sentence investigation statements made by Hinton
that repeatedly laid the blame for the entire incident at the
students’ feet during Monday’s sentencing hearing before Fremont
County Court Judge Norman Cooling.
Hinton, 34, was found guilty in
August by a six-person jury of one count each of third-degree
assault and false imprisonment. He also was found not guilty of four
other counts of third-degree assault and one other count of false
imprisonment during the week-long hearing.
At the time of his arrest in
January, Hinton was project manager and co-founder of the Royal
Gorge Academy boarding school.
“To this day, (Hinton) believes he
did nothing wrong,” LeDoux said Monday as he explained to Cooling
why Hinton should be sentenced to jail. “He still believes he was
justified. That is a real problem.”
In the PSI, when Hinton was asked
what affect the incident had on his victims, he replied, “I believe
they finally realize the importance of their choices and realize if
they don't change their ways they will have adults making choices
for them.”
Also, Hinton said, “I believe parts
of the community have gained from this.”
LeDoux argued Hinton’s attitude did
not show proper respect to the court or to the criminal justice
process.
However, Hinton’s attorney, Michael
Gillick, said Hinton had been consistent with his statements
throughout his arrest, trial and aftermath and indicated if Hinton
changed his story now, he would be guilty of lying.
“Judge, jail is not an appropriate
sentence for Randall Hinton,” Gillick said. “He deserves no jail
time.”
Gillick pointed to Hinton’s clean
criminal record, strong employment record and responsibility as the
sole provider for his family including his wife, Joy, and four young
children.
“Randall Hinton has dedicated his
life to helping others, primarily helping kids,” Gillick said. “Jail
would create an extreme hardship for his family.”
Gillick also indicated Hinton has
abandoned his career in helping troubled youth and will begin a
management job Friday in Cortez for an automotive company.
Hinton took the opportunity to
address the judge directly before sentencing, but was brief in his
comments.
“This has been very educational,”
Hinton said with a hint of a smile, “and that’s probably about it.”
He then returned to his seat.
Cooling acknowledged Hinton had
been in the “difficult situation” of dealing with troubled youth on
a daily basis, but said the guilty verdicts proved he had crossed
the line.
“It is clear to me Mr. Hinton does
not believe to this day he did anything wrong,” Cooling said,
recognizing he was troubled by Hinton’s refusal to accept
appropriate responsibility for his actions.
Cooling asked Hinton to explain
several of his comments in the PSI. In that report, Hinton said “the
newspaper probably sold more newspapers” because of the notoriety of
his trial, and said he did not understand the journalistic value of
his trial.
In seeking “balance” in sentencing
Hinton, Cooling said he believed some jail sentence was entirely
appropriate as he handed down 25 days in county jail and one year
probation in the third-degree assault conviction, and $300 fine and
one year probation in the false imprisonment conviction. Cooling
said probation sentences would run concurrently.
Hinton was ordered to begin his
jail sentence at 9 a.m. Jan. 1, 2008. Gillick indicated Hinton was
considering his options to file an appeal in the sentencing.
Hinton also will return to court
soon for a hearing on court costs. LeDoux said the District
Attorney’s office is working to gather information on the costs of
prosecution, and will seek an order instructing Hinton to repay
those expenses.
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