Scott Schneegas of Steamboat was sentenced to five years (minus 277 days of time served) in the Colorado Department of Corrections Tuesday for his involvement in an accident downtown, on Lincoln Ave., on May 6. That’s where the vehicle 27-year-old Schneegas was driving hit a parked car which hit a window washer who had recently moved to northwest Colorado. Andrew Leedom lost his leg in the accident. We spoke with Leedom after the sentencing.
Leedom has had six surgeries because of the accident. His left leg was amputated above the knee. He has titanium plates and screws in his other leg. He spent eight weeks recovering at a Denver hospital after being airlifted there. He and his family moved back to Michigan but he was allowed to make a statement at the sentencing, as was his family.
Honorable Judge Michael O’Hara presided over the sentencing. and said he admired Leedom for wanting to come back to Steamboat to read his victim impact statement. He added, “I’m painfully aware that nothing I can say or do will make you feel any better.”
Leedom added that he has spent $20,000 in renovations to his house since he now has one leg and had to do it to get around.
Schneegas had multiple sentences which will be served concurrently. He has to pay at least $202,430.73 in restitution. He was on probation at the time of the accident, his drivers license had been revoked and he did not have insurance, and he was driving impaired. It is his first felony conviction.
In his statement to the court, read through Public Defender Kiyomi Bolick, Schneegas said he had a son born in June, which was the next month after the accident. He named him Andrew. While he expressed remorse, Judge O’Hara later said that it was disconcerting to him that prior to Tuesday’s sentencing, the remorse from Schneegas was limited. But “I’m glad he said it today.”
Honorable Judge Michael O’Hara presided over the sentencing. Family members of both parties were allowed in the courtroom, but six feet apart and masked. Judge O’Hara said it is an emotionally charged situation. Other sentences for other charges were imposed which will be served concurrently, with three years of mandatory parole upon release. A Victim’s Compensation Board is also still meeting about their decision on compensation.
Melinda Carlson was from the District Attorney’s office. She explained some of the past history of Scott Schneegas which included missed probations, failure to report for court, and a failure to report on nine drug tests. She said he “complied with zero of his requirements of probation.” She also said Schneegas had other charges that were still unresolved from striking other unattended vehicles, one of which he left the scene. She said on the day of the accident, Schneegas stole two cans of compressed air from Walmart and huffed them to get high. Carlson said a drug screening found THC in Schneegas’ system.
Andrew Leedom’s wife, Deborah Ann Leedom, read a statement to the judge that Schneegas caused an extensive amount of damage to a lot of people and that her brutal nightmare will never be over, adding that any apology is too late because of his “selfishness, carelessness, and stupidity.” She said he should never be allowed to operate a vehicle again.
Zach Engle was also injured in the crash. In his victim impact statement, he said it was the most difficult day of his life and it will impact him forever.
After Tuesday’s sentencing, family members of both parties met and talked briefly in front of the Routt County Courthouse.