A Durango resident with seven DUI convictions over several decades and a pending felony DUI case in La Plata County was sentenced to two years with the Colorado Department of Corrections in 22nd Judicial District Court in Cortez on Thursday.
Deputy District Attorney Sheena Goldsborough recommended that Jason O. Lujan, 43, be sentenced to two years in community corrections – an alternative to prison – but 22nd Judicial District Chief Judge Douglas Walker decided that incarcerating Lujan would protect the community.
“Mr. Lujan, you’re going to kill yourself,” Walker said. “You’re going to kill others.”
Cortez Police Department arrested Lujan on Sept. 29. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 25 to DUI with more than three priors, a Class 4 felony.
Walker asked Lujan why he shouldn’t send him to prison. Lujan said community corrections would help him get the help he needs and put him on the right path. But Walker noted that Lujan has six priors, a pending case in La Plata County, he received treatment with community corrections in 1996, received other treatments and went through behavior court.
“None of those things have worked,” Walker said. “I have no reason to believe that any of them will ever work in the future.”
Walker sentenced Lujan to two years with DOC.
Once he gets out, Walker told Lujan that if he chooses to drink, he shouldn’t drive.
sdolan@the-journal.com