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Ex-deputy gets 3 months for killing woman
Posted: 04.11.2012 at 4:04 PM
Updated: 04.12.2012 at 5:25 AM
Rachel Welte

Rachel Welte is the Weekend News Anchor and a General Assignment Reporter.

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Rodney Fannin  / FOX21: file photo
Photo

EL PASO COUNTY, COLO. -- There was not a dry eye in the courtroom Wednesday as former El Paso County sheriff's deputy Rodney Fannin was sentenced.

A jury found Fannin guilty last week of careless driving resulting in death.

Investigators said Fannin ran a red light at Highway 94 and Curtis Road, killing 41-year-old Vivian Elmo on Aug. 3, 2011.

Fannin was off duty and on probation for a separate careless driving conviction when the crash occurred.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office launched an internal investigation following the accident and fired Fannin.

The courtroom was standing room only, packed with Elmo and Fannin's family and friends.

More on this story
Fannin fired after crash 
Woman killed in crash ID'd 
Deputy runs red light in crash 
Fannin charged in fatal crash 

Elmo's father, best friend and co-workers were the first to share their grief.

They painted a picture of the wonderful woman Elmo was, and shared stories of her life.

One friend called Elmo her "angel on earth, and now in Heaven."

Meanwhile Fannin's friends, former co-workers, wife and two sons spoke about Fannin's loyalty, dedication and service to his family and the community.

"He is a good, kind gentleman who has had a tragic accident, no malicious intent," Fannin Family friend Mike Bartusek said. "I mean, this is one of those things, we look down for a minute or get distracted and all of a sudden their is someone in front of you."

After about three hours, the judge sentenced Fannin to 90 days in jail, 200 hours of community service and two years of unsupervised probation.

"Both people are very similar in the way they were in their community and the friends around them, so it is just total tragedy," Bartusek said.

Elmo's family respectfully chose not to speak following the sentencing.

On the judge's orders, Fannin will report to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center at the end of April.

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Original story:

A former El Paso County Sheriff's deputy will spend 90 days in jail for running a red light and killing an Air Force woman in August 2011.

Rodney Fannin also received two years probation and 200 hours of community service after being sentenced by a judge Wednesday afternoon.

Rodney Fannin ran a red light at Curtis Road while going east on Highway 94 in El Paso County Aug. 3. His Ford Explorer t-boned a Honda Accord driven by 41-year-old Vivian Elmo, who was turning west on the highway from Curtis.

Elmo died at the scene, and Fannin suffered injuries. He was charged with careless driving resulting in death and was fired from the sheriff's office shortly thereafter.

The 42-year-old deputy was also involved in a crash in January, where he was cited for careless driving resulting in bodily injury. He was off-duty at the time of the Aug. 3 crash and in his personal car. He did not operate an emergency vehicle as part of his daily duties.

Elmo was stationed at Schriever Air Force Base.

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