Lamberth gets 96 years for killing police detective

Convicted killer Jereme A. Lamberth was sentenced to 96 years in prison Monday for the 2006 shooting death of Colorado Springs Police detective Jared Jensen.

Before the sentencing, 4th Judicial District Judge Larry Schwartz declared Lamberth, 32, a habitual criminal because of three prior felony convictions, then quadrupled the 24-year maximum sentence for the second-degree murder conviction a jury handed down Feb. 15.

Lamberth shot Jensen, 30, in the head Feb. 22, 2006, at a bus stop at Hancock Avenue and Costilla Street. Jensen was trying to arrest Lamberth on an attempted murder warrant.

"This is an appropriate sentence based on the choices you made that day," Schwartz said, noting Lamberth chose to buy a gun to confront anyone trying to arrest him.

Widow Natalie Jensen said her husband gave his life to protect the Colorado Springs community.

"My family unit was blown apart by this individual," she said. "Together, we were going to make a positive difference in this world. Jared put his faith in this system."

She asked Schwartz to impose the maximum sentence.

The sentencing hearing provided a chance for Jensen's family and police not only to express sorrow over his death, but also to vent frustration with Lamberth's defense team.

"For the last two years, we've had to be politically correct and were not allowed to talk," said Jensen's partner, detective Tracy Fox, referring to the gag order imposed on everyone involved in the case. "The defense counsel blamed everyone else. Even if Jereme Lamberth didn't see the badge (when Jensen tried to arrest him), I don't see how he could just kill someone at point blank range just because they touched his arm."

A major part of Lamberth's defense was the contention he didn't know Jensen was a detective when he shot him.

Fox apologized to the Jensen family - an apology Jensen's father Tom Jensen later said was "not necessary or needed."

Fox and Jensen's other partner, Olav Chaney, were racing to the bus stop to back Jensen up when he was shot.

Jensen's mother, Debby Hudson, said Jensen's loved ones have had to endure years of "lies and callousness" by Lamberth's attorneys.

"The pain of losing a child is so intense, you physically feel as if you'd been stabbed in a vital organ and it was torn from you," Hudson said. "When Jared was killed, life as I knew it ceased."

Assistant District Attorney Amy Mullaney talked about how Jensen's death affected the entire community.

"Some crimes strike at the heart of who we are as a community," Mullaney said. "It matters that Jared Jensen was a good man. He chose to serve and protect. Jereme Lamberth chose to assault, trespass and kill. . . . Those who commit such heinous acts forfeit their right to be among us."

Lamberth's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bill Martinez, said his client was raised poorly by an alcoholic mother.

"It's of vital importance for human existence to feel wanted, appreciated and loved," Martinez said. "Jereme Lamberth was cursed not to have that."

When asked if he had anything to say before being sentenced, Lamberth said, "I don't think it would be appropriate right now."

He showed no emotion during the nearly four-hour hearing.

Lamberth still faces an attempted murder trial on charges he stabbed his sister 13 times, including in the face. Jensen was attempting to arrest Lamberth on those charges.

The attempted murder trial is scheduled for June 9 in Boulder. Schwartz previously ruled that Lamberth could not get a fair trial in El Paso County after the publicity generated by his second-degree murder conviction. If convicted, Lamberth could face an additional 48 years in prison.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0110 or dennis.huspeni@gazette.com