Yareni Rios-Gonzales, who is the client of the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm, a leading personal injury and car accident law firm in Denver, has received justice for being handcuffed and left in a police vehicle that was later hit by a train.
"Ms. Rios respects the verdict in this case against Ms. Steinke and believes that justice was done," Christopher Ponce, the other attorney representing Rios-Gonzales, told USA Today on Saturday.
On July 28, 2023, Officer Jordan Steinke was found guilty of reckless endangerment and assault by 19th Judicial District Judge Timothy Kerns — Steinke chose not to have a jury trial. Officer Steinke, at the time working for the Fort Lupton Police Department, was captured on body cam footage placing a handcuffed Rios-Gonzalez into the back of a police vehicle situated atop train tracks on the evening of Sept. 16, 2022. Two minutes later, a train can be seen slamming into the car with Rios-Gonzalez still inside.
Rios-Gonzalez could see and hear the freight train coming and "tried frantically to get the officers' attention,” said Paul Wilkinson, the lawyer representing Rios-Gonzalez, to USA Today. “She saw the whole thing coming and believed it to be the end.”
Rios-Gonzalez survived the crash but will likely suffer from injuries her whole life, according to Ponce. Sentencing isn't scheduled until Sept. 15. Steinke could be fined up to $5,750 and serve a maximum of 24 months in jail. The other officer involved in the collision, Pablo Vazquez, is set to appear in court in August to face the eight misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment he's charged with.
In addition to the criminal case, Rios-Gonzales is also suing the Platteville and Fort Lupton police departments. The successful prosecution of one of the officers involved bodes well for Rios-Gonzales' lawsuit.
About Paul Wilkinson Law Firm
The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm has steadfastly championed justice for over 12 years, procuring millions in personal injury settlements. Their passionate team specializes in a range of personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents. This veteran-owned and operated law firm upholds it values of transparency, loyalty, and integrity in their pursuit of justice for all of their clients.
Media Contact:
Name: Paul Wilkinson
Phone: 303-333-7285
Email: [email protected]
Address: 999 Jasmine St. Denver, CO 80220
Website: https://www.callpaul.com/
Source: Story.KISSPR.com
Release ID: 457203