GOLDEN, Colo. (Oct. 10, 2024) – Andre Deshawn Jones was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for the attempted murder of Wheat Ridge Police Officer Allan Fischer in April 2022 and three years in prison for the assault on a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy while in custody in 2023. Officer Fischer was responding to a report of a U-Haul truck that had crashed into a fence when he was attacked by Jones and stabbed in the neck, chest and back.
In August, a Jefferson County jury found Jones guilty of Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree- Threaten a Peace Officer with a Deadly Weapon, Assault in the First Degree- Intentionally Cause Serious Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the First Degree, and Resisting Arrest. As a result, Jones faced a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to several decades in prison.
Count 1: Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder in the Second Degree (range 10-32 years)
Count 2: Assault in the First Degree (range 10-32 years)
Count 3: Assault in the First Degree (range 10-32 years)
Count 4: Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the First Degree (range 2-6-12 years)
Count 11: Resisting Arrest (range max of 1 year)
At sentencing, Jones also pleaded guilty to Attempted Second Degree Assault on a Peace Officer for assaulting and injuring a Jefferson County jail deputy while in custody in September 2023. Prosecutors asked the court to impose a consecutive sentence for this offense.
The courtroom was filled beyond capacity, and two separate courtrooms were needed to accommodate the family, friends, and fellow officers who gathered to witness the culmination of a judicial process that spanned over two years. Wheat Ridge Police Chief Murtha, alongside Officer Fischer’s daughters, his wife, and Officer Fischer himself, addressed the court. They spoke poignantly about the enduring impact of Jones’ actions, highlighting the tragic reality that Officer Fischer can no longer serve as a police officer due to the daily pain and limitations he endures.
Chief Murtha expressed the profound impact on the entire police department and all those dedicated to serving the community. “Our department has been forced to reflect on the realities of the violence we confront” he stated, “yet we remain resolute in our mission.” He asked the court to “deliver a strong message that violence against those who protect and serve is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
In a powerful statement, Chief Deputy District Attorney Sheryl Berry advocated for the harshest penalty allowable by law, emphasizing the gravity of the crime committed. “Officer Fischer had an angel on his shoulder that day,” she remarked, attributing his survival to the swift and skilled actions of fellow officers and medical personnel.
Berry also addressed Jones’ assault on the Jefferson County Sheriff Deputy who, unlike Officer Fischer, was just embarking on his career, and the great impact his actions had on that deputy and his family. Finally, Berry noted Jones’ lack of accountability, stating, “There has been no acceptance of responsibility in this case… accountability was delivered by a verdict of the defendant’s peers.”
Jones also addressed the court, stating “my actions have led me to this day,” and asked for forgiveness.
District Judge Poland imposed the following sentence:
Count 1: 32 years in prison
Count 2: 32 years (concurrent)
Count 3: 32 years (concurrent)
Count 4: 6 years (concurrent) Count 11: 1 year (concurrent)
As to the assault on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy in September 2023, the Court sentenced Jones to three years, consecutive to the 32-year sentence for Officer Fischer.