KIOWA • Lily Whitworth, the 19-year-old who admitted to planning a mass shooting at a school in Colorado Springs, was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday after an Elbert County judge ruled that probation or community corrections would not have been acceptable sentences.

Whitworth originally faced several charges of attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, criminal mischief, menacing and interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions. Through the plea agreement entered in November, Whitworth only pleaded guilty to the amended charge of second-degree assault, and the remaining charges were dismissed.

Attorneys had requested dramatically different sentences for Whitworth at the beginning of her sentencing hearing earlier this month, with the prosecution seeking 10 years in the Department of Corrections and the defense seeking only supervised probation.

Despite continued statements from Whitworth’s defense attorneys that a term in the Department of Corrections would only be harmful to both her rehabilitation and to community safety, Judge Theresa Slade decided that a prison sentence was the only way to “ensure a sense of security” among the community. Slade sentenced Whitworth to six years in prison along with three years of mandatory parole upon her release.

The sentencing at the Elbert County Courthouse for Whitworth was extended after initially beginning on Jan. 19. Slade at the time opted to push back sentencing to seek more clarity from the probation and community corrections departments.

At Tuesday’s hearing, brief records were made by the attorneys in an attempt to clarify the questions raised by Slade at Whitworth’s previous hearing. Whitworth’s defense attorney Elizabeth Jones informed the court that her client had been accepted to a community-corrections facility in Jefferson County and that, if probation were granted, Whitworth would be admitted to a supervised sober-living facility in the state.

Prosecutor Eva Wilson had no new information for the court, but reasserted her belief that both a supervised sober-living home and a community-corrections facility were not enough supervision for Whitworth, and that a prison sentence remained the only way to ensure community safety.

Jones reasserted her belief to the court that a prison sentence would only harm Whitworth further, and that the best way to ensure community safety was to allow Whitworth to take part in the out-of-custody restoration services recommended by either community corrections or probation.

At the start of Whitworth’s sentencing on Jan. 19, Jones argued vehemently that Whitworth’s childhood trauma played a significant role in the threats made and that, since being incarcerated, Whitworth had made “remarkable” steps toward recovery.

Wilson at the initial sentencing hearing presented evidence to highlight the seriousness of the threats being made by Whitworth, including entries from her journal stating that she wanted to kill at least 30 people, and text messages Whitworth sent her mother the day of her arrest, saying “how clear do I have to make it. I’m going to walk into Timberview Middle School with an AR.”

The school in Academy District 20 was one of several locations outlined in Whitworth’s notebook as a potential spot to commit a mass shooting, but also the location with the most detailed threats, which included a map of Timberview drawn on a whiteboard in her bedroom. Other locations mentioned in Whitworth’s writings included churches, law enforcement buildings and other schools in Colorado Springs.

While Slade gave her reasoning for her sentence, she spoke directly to Whitworth, who nodded along. Slade appeared disappointed by the recommendations made by probation and community corrections, stating that she agreed with Wilson that the lack of supervision offered by the programs wasn’t acceptable for Whitworth, considering the seriousness of Whitworth’s threats.

“This had a pretty big impact on the community,” Slade said. “People were hurt, people were scared (by Whitworth’s actions).”

Slade opted to sentence Whitworth to six years in prison with 308 days of credit for time served.

As it became clear during Slade’s remarks that she was going to order prison, Whitworth stopped nodding along to the judge’s comments.

“I think the Department of Corrections sentence is absolutely supported by all the evidence, all the planning and the impact on the victims,” Wilson said after the hearing. “I think anything less … would just not be appropriate, considering the magnitude of the planning and the efforts made.”

Despite the six-year prison sentence being on the lower end of the five- to 16-year possible prison sentence allowable under the plea agreement — and four years shorter than the 10 years requested by Wilson herself — Wilson stated she was just happy that a prison sentence was received.

“I hope (this sentence) tells the community how seriously the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office took these threats, and how hard they worked to put this case together,” Wilson said. “I cannot thank them enough, and I think the community cannot thank them enough.”

Whitworth’s defense attorneys were not available for comment following the sentencing hearing.

Whitworth herself didn’t speak during Tuesday’s hearing, but at the start of sentencing last month, she attempted to take accountability for her actions and apologized.

“I was in too deep, way too deep,” Whitworth said to the court. “The choices I’ve made, I regret.”