The Colorado Springs man found guilty of multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, for killing a parole officer with his car in 2023 was sentenced to 48 years in the Department of Corrections Friday.

Justin Kula, 42, was accused of killing Pueblo parole officer Christine Guerin Sandoval with his car after he attempted to flee from her and two other parole officers who were attempting to make contact with Kula on Sept. 28, 2023, in Colorado Springs.

Kula was sentenced to 48 years in prison for leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious bodily injury. He was also sentenced to another 24 years for the merged counts of manslaughter and vehicle homicide to run concurrently. A sentence of 364 days for the misdemeanor assault will run consecutive, 4th Judicial District Judge David Shakes ruled.

In February, Kula’s claims of self-defense were ultimately unsuccessful and a jury found him guilty on all charges just 45 minutes after the conclusion of closing arguments, according to prior Gazette coverage.

There was not a single empty seat in the courtroom Friday with family members, friends and members of law enforcement filling up each bench. Many wore blue shirts bearing the “Blue Lives Matter” flag.

Tears streamed down the faces of many in attendance as victim statements were read aloud. Sandoval’s husband and her two children both took to the microphone to urge Shakes to impose the maximum sentence possible.

Sandoval’s children were only teenagers when they lost their mother.

Sandoval’s husband, Rodney Sandoval, spoke first, calling the death of his wife a “senseless act.”

“I don’t think (Kula) realizes how much pain and heartache he has caused,” Rodney Sandoval said. “I find it difficult to go on without her.”

“Nothing is ever going to be the same. Christine was a big part of our family,” he said after the hearing. “We were high school sweethearts and she was the greatest person ever. It was 33 beautiful years.”

Reana Sandoval described her mother as her “best friend,” saying she doesn’t know how to live life without her.

“(She was) the best mother I could ask for…she was so kind, loving, she made every room she walked into light up,” Reana Sandoval said. “19 years wasn’t enough.”

Sandoval’s son said she had a “heart of gold and a soul like no other.”

“The pain I felt that day is something that can never be matched,” Rodney Sandoval Jr. said. “To this day, I still cannot believe my mom is gone.”

A group of Sandoval’s closest friends also stood up in front of the courtroom to talk about the person she was and the hole they now feel in their life without her.

“She was an angel, and she was a great person … she did not need to die that day,” Sandoval’s friend Dassity Miller said.

“Please, please give Christine the justice she deserves,” Miller asked of Shakes.

After the victim impact statements and ahead of sentencing, Kula’s defense counsel argued for a “lenient” sentence due to Kula’s “childhood trauma,” highlighting his addiction issues related to meth, heroin and cocaine as well as several diagnosed mental health disorders.

His defense also argued Kula has shown a “great deal of remorse” and had “no intention of anyone dying.” The courtroom was shown a video that was never seen in the trial of Kula realizing he killed Sandoval.

“Oh my god,” Kula is heard saying several times after the news is broken to him. He is seen immediately bursting into tears and putting his head in his hands.

“No way she’s dead, no way,” Kula is heard saying. “Oh god, no … I didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”

Kula gave a short statement of only a few sentences apologizing for his actions.

“I didn’t mean to kill her, I promise you,” Kula said while crying. “I do take accountability, and I am really sorry.”

Shakes said he took Kula’s prior felony convictions in Texas and Colorado, many of which are drug and domestic violence offenses, into account with his sentencing.

“I have no optimism whatsoever of rehabilitation for this defendant,” Shakes said before imposing the sentence.

In a statement, 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen thanked the judge for imposing the maximum sentence available under Colorado law. He also thanked the prosecutors, Chief Deputy District Attorney Rachael Powell and Senior Deputy district Attorney Shelby Crow for the outcome.

Friends and family of Sandoval hugged each other in relief upon the conclusion of the sentencing.

“We are going to continue to advocate for changes to happen in the law so violent criminal offenders are held accountable for their actions,” Miller said after the hearing.