I know this story left people in Brighton with a lot of different feelings. Wanted to make sure you had an outlet to express those especially as it comes to an end.
BRIGHTON — Allen Beck only wanted to see justice for his daughter.
In the end, the often-ponderous wheels of justice turned far too slowly.
Beck, 50, died Saturday at his Brighton home just three days before a rescheduled sentencing hearing for Steven Martinez, the man convicted in March of vehicular homicide and careless driving stemming from a 2005 accident that claimed the life of 16-year-old Chelsea Beck, a Brighton High School junior.
Adams County Court Judge Thomas E. Ensor sentenced Martinez, 21, to eight years in prison Tuesday morning with a mandatory five years parole. The sentence ended three years punctuated by a lengthy mental health institutionalization for Martinez, continuances, postponed hearings and lawyer changes.
“A long-ass journey,” mother Shelly Beck said outside the courtroom. “I’m so glad it’s over. I needed some closure.”
She said she would have liked to see Martinez get a maximum 12 years in prison, but she was happy he finally stood before the court and took accountability for his actions. Beck admitted she was struggling with a variety of emotions on the heels of Allen’s sudden death. Allen had been at the May 8 sentencing date, which was delayed because of a missing community corrections report.
Shelly told Ensor that the pain of Chelsea’s death clouded their positive thoughts of a “selfless, kind, lady.”
She said Martinez neglected her daughter that Jan. 31 evening when his silver Cadillac slammed into the back of a tow truck in the Brighton roundabouts as he drove away from a pursuing police officer.
“Steven had total disregard for Chelsea and cared for no one but himself,” she said.
Martinez, who rarely spoke during court hearings and didn’t take the stand during his trial, said he took responsibility for his action and was in search of forgiveness.
“I never meant for this to happen,” he said. “All I’m asking for is forgiveness.”
Martinez said he wished he could go back and changed what happened.
“I pray every day it was my life taken, not hers,” he said.
“God knows I’m trying. God knows I’m sorry,” Martinez added about how the accident has changed his life. “I just want something positive to come from this.”
Martinez’ public defender, Scott Evans, said his client does not recall the accident because of serious head injuries and has struggled to come to terms with what happened.
“He couldn’t believe he could have done something like this,” Evans said.
Evans said he was disappointed Martinez was declined as a candidate for community corrections and questioned whether a prison sentence was the best choice for his client.
Ensor said in 30 years as a judge, these cases always prove to be the hardest.
“Sometimes I really like my job,” he said. “Sometimes, I really hate my job. This is one of those times.”
He said he didn’t doubt Martinez’ sincerity but granting probation just wasn’t appropriate. Ensor said a sentence isn’t just meant to punish the convicted party but hopefully send a message to anyone who, in this particular case, might think about getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking.
Martinez was credited for time already served – 717 days. Most of that time was spent at the Colorado State Mental Institution in Pueblo where Martinez was sent after a different judge originally ruled him mentally incompetent to stand trial. That decision was overturned in early 2007.
The sentence triggered a flood of raw emotion in the courtroom. Martinez called out to her handcuffed son, “I love you, baby,” as he was led away by deputies. Meanwhile, a sobbing Shelly embraced Adams County District Attorney deputy prosecutors, Jaime Cowan and Rhoda Pilmer. The two also shed tears – symbolic of the time and emotion invested in the case. Other family members clutched framed pictures of Chelsea and an easel also held a poster board collage of family photos.
Funeral services for Allen Beck will be at 11 a.m., Thursday morning.
