Pueblo man sentenced in vehicular homicide of Canon City teen

A Pueblo man was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for vehicular homicide in the death of a teenager last November.

Phillip Cassares, 27, pleaded guilty in May to vehicular homicide - driving under the influence, in a plea deal signed by 10th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Chostner.

In exchange for his guilty plea, all other charges against Cassares were dropped. He originally was charged with first-degree murder - extreme indifference, vehicular homicide and driving under restraint.

The sentencing agreement stipulated a sentence between 16-24 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Victim's family expresses heartbreak, requests maximum sentence

During the sentencing Friday, Martin Welch, the father of 18-year-old victim Ashton Welch, said his family suffered extreme trauma and heartbreak because of Cassares' actions the night of the crash. Martin Welch stated that from the night of his son's death to the day of the sentencing, he had not seen any remorse in the defendant.

"We know that we are not the only parents to lose children. But I am the only father, she the only mother, to lose Ashton Welch. We are uniquely broken in a world full of broken people," he told the court.

Martin Welch asked the court to impose the maximum sentence of 24 years — a request echoed by Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lindsey, who said from the beginning of the case, Cassares exhibited a "very cavalier attitude" about his actions.

Lindsey stated that when police responded to the scene of the crash, Cassares told officers he had been in the passenger seat of the vehicle but could not name the person driving.

At the hospital following the crash, Lindsey stated, Cassares only demonstrated concern for his phone that was taken from him and did not ask about the victim's condition. While there, Cassares demanded the badge numbers of the officers involved and at one point even pushed an officer, Lindsey said.

Lindsey stated Cassares also had a history of driving with his license under restraint. Evidence suggests he was driving 60 mph in a 40-mph zone. At the hospital, he had a blood alcohol content of .128, although Lindsey stated that due to time passed, his BAC at the time of the crash was likely between .161 and .210 — even the former of which would be more than double Colorado's legal limit.

Lindsey said even with a maximum sentence, Cassares would get a good deal.

"Mr. Cassares is lucky," Lindsey said. "He survived the crash. Even in prison, he'll see his family. Mr. Welch isn't that lucky."

Cassares' family, attorney speak of remorse, ask for minimum sentence

Christina Cassares, the eldest sister of Phillip Cassares, started by expressing her sympathies to the Welch family. She noted she is a mother of two and "can't imagine the heartache and the pain of losing your baby."

"No parent should have to lose their child," she said.

Christina Cassares said that when her family found out about the death of Ashton Welch, she "tried to be strong for her brother," but lost her composure when she saw the pain and regret in his eyes upon realizing the hurt he'd caused.

She also emphasized that he had two daughters that depended on him as a father, including a 10-year-old and now a 1-month-old.

Phillip Cassares' mother stated her son initially believed no one else was hurt and didn't find out until later someone had been hurt and later passed away.

"My first thought was for Ashton's mother," she said. "I know my son didn't want this to happen, and that if he could change places with Ashton he would."

Phillip Cassares' lawyer, Devin Hyver, asked the court to impose the minimum proposed sentence of 16 years, arguing it would already be four years more than the normal maximum for a third-degree felony and that Phillip Cassares had agreed to aggravated sentencing.

Hyver chalked up his client's initial claims that he wasn't driving, and his concern about his phone at the hospital, to mistrust of the system.

Phillip Cassares also has no prior DUIs, she said, and the restraint on his license was "not from penalties to his license."

'I am not a monster': Phillip Cassares addresses Ashton Welch's family

Addressing the court, Phillip Cassares spoke to Ashton Welch's family, saying that while nothing he said or did could bring back their son, he wanted them to know he feels a deep sense of remorse.

"I am not a monster," he said. "But I acted extremely inconsiderate and reckless in getting behind the wheel that night. ...The hardest part is looking in the mirror, without feeling such anger, sorrow and remorse."

Phillip Cassares asked Judge Amiel Markenson to show mercy. After considering all of the factors in the case and the families' statements, Markenson imposed a sentence of 18 years.

Welch family reacts to sentence

As Phillip Cassares was led away by a deputy, Martin Welch told him he appreciated the statement and wished him well in the future.

Martin Welch said that while he' asked for 24 years, he accepted Markenson's judgment.

"We realize it was an accident at the end of the day and we're thankful for the judge's discretion and overall judgment in this," he said. "We certainly don't have any animosity toward Mr. Cassares and we hope he makes something of his life."

Addressing Phillip Cassares' statement, Martin Welch said they've never considered him a monster and understood he did not set out that day with the intention to kill their son.

"What we were looking for today was not vengeance, but some form of closure and we were looking for justice," he said. "For him to say that today was the first time we've heard something like that, and we're going to take it at face value and pray he means it."

Martin Welch described his son as "our light."

"He had a lot of potential, he was artistic, he was creative, he was loving, he really cared for other people, and I think that's something we miss the most in our home — his heart for others, for us, his pets and everybody he knew, as well as his creativity and his love for life," he said.

Before his death, Ashton Welch, a 2022 graduate of Canon City High School, had set up a nonprofit called "sickamoki" aimed at helping young people, especially teenagers, suffering from mental illness. He created it after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, many of Asthon Welch's friends were affected by the isolation imposed by quarantine conditions.

"He saw a lot of his friends really suffer that way and was really close to one girl who had attempted suicide," Martin Welch said.

He stated that his son's art will be featured in a future art show being put on by a mentor of his in Canon City. A date and time for the art show has not yet been announced.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter@jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man sentenced to prison for vehicular homicide of teenager