A 24-year-old Broomfield man was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 24 years in prison for the shooting death of 71-year-old Michael Lewis, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced today.
Joseph Maestas-Sanchez was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal trespass after he shot Lewis on Aug. 25, 2021 during a string of car break-ins in the 2200 block of Sunridge Circle in Broomfield.
Police officials alleged Maestas-Sanchez shot Lewis when the victim attempted to confront him during the break-ins.
While Maestas-Sanchez was convicted of aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal trespass after a trial in April, the jury could not reach a verdict on the second-degree murder charge, according to the district attorney’s office.
Maestas-Sanchez’s four-day retrial began Aug. 28, and the jury deliberated for two days before finding him guilty of manslaughter.
Under Colorado law, second-degree murder is defined as knowingly causing the death of a person, while manslaughter is defined as recklessly causing the death of another person.
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