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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

File-This file photo provided by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office shows Bruco Eastwood. Eastwood is accused of wounding two eighth graders in a shooting at Deer Creek middle School in February 2010. Eastwood, convicted of possession of a weapon on school grounds in the shooting and wounding of two eighth-graders at a Colorado middle school will be learning his sentence Thursday Nov. 10, 2011.

Suspect in Colo. school shootings avoids prison

November 10, 2011 11:10 AM

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOLDEN — A man accused of wounding two children outside a Colorado school will avoid prison because his time spent in a mental hospital is being applied to the 18-month sentence he received for a weapons violation.

Prosecutors expressed frustration with the sentence for Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood Thursday. The judge says his hands are tied by state law.

Eastwood was accused of shooting two students in February 2010 at Deer Creek Middle School, evoking memories of the 1999 shootings at nearby Columbine High School.

He was found not guilty by reason of insanity of attempted first-degree murder but convicted of having a weapon on school grounds. He was sentenced on the weapons charge Thursday.

The insanity verdict means he'll be held at the mental hospital indefinitely until he is deemed sane.

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