Ezekiel Whiskers was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a gun as a convicted felon.
Whiskers was the confirmed shooter in a September incident near Good Sam’s Food Pantry in Cortez. Witnesses at the pet food giveaway heard gunshots and saw a man chase another down an alley. No one was injured.
Both men were arrested at Montezuma Park, but police later released the second man after determining he wasn’t involved.
Camera footage showed Whiskers fired the gun, though his attorney described it as an accident in court Friday. Some initial charges were reduced under the plea agreement.
At Friday’s sentencing, Whiskers, 25, apologized to the community for putting himself and others in danger.
His public defender told Chief Judge Todd Plewe that Whiskers admitted during their first call three months ago that he was drunk. The attorney asked for a sentence at the lower end of the one- to six-year range, arguing Whiskers’ age supports rehabilitation.
The judge imposed the maximum sentence, citing prosecutor Justin Pierce’s argument that Whiskers’ criminal history should be considered.
“You are very young, and you have a lengthy criminal history, and I agree with Mr. Pierce that it is escalating. Soon you are going to likely be eligible for community corrections,” Plewe said, urging Whiskers to take advantage of those alternative resources.
