Executive Summary
- Stephen Geer faces four to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide-DUI in the death of Officer Evan Dunn.
- Forensic evidence established Geer’s blood-alcohol level was .168 and he was speeding at the time of the crash.
- Investigators disproved Geer’s alibi using surveillance footage and noted his phone data was remotely wiped.
- Victim impact statements were delivered by the officer’s family and the Golden Police Chief during the hearing.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — A sentencing hearing is proceeding this week for Stephen Geer, the driver who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the November 2024 crash that killed Golden Police Officer Evan Dunn. The hearing, presided over by Judge Russell Klein, is determining the final prison term for Geer, who faces a sentence ranging from four to 18 years under the terms of a plea agreement.
Geer pleaded guilty in October to vehicular homicide-DUI and vehicular assault-DUI. The charges originated from the incident on November 6, 2024, on Highway 58. According to court documents cited by investigators, Geer was driving a Mazda that struck a Subaru involved in a prior wreck, pinning Officer Dunn and Officer Bethany Grusing beneath the vehicle. Officer Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene, while Grusing and two civilians sustained serious injuries.
During the proceedings, prosecutors presented forensic evidence indicating that Geer had a blood-alcohol content of .168—more than twice the legal limit—when tested approximately three hours after the collision. Data retrieved from Geer’s vehicle showed he was traveling at 69 mph in a 55 mph zone seconds before the crash. Investigators also challenged Geer’s initial claims regarding his whereabouts, noting that surveillance footage from the Colorado School of Mines contradicted his statement that he had been grading papers on campus. Furthermore, search warrant affidavits revealed that data on Geer’s cellphone was remotely wiped after police took possession of it.
The court heard emotional victim impact statements from Officer Dunn’s family and colleagues. “Evan was my only brother. I will forever remember that date,” stated Tyler Dunn. Golden Police Chief Joe Harvey described the chaotic scene, recounting the “fear, horror, and sheer panic” as officers attempted to lift the vehicle off their colleagues. Officer Grusing’s father also testified, detailing the lasting trauma inflicted on his daughter and family.
Geer’s defense team presented testimony regarding his history of anxiety, depression, and addiction. His wife, Lynn Noesner, told the court that Geer has since joined Alcoholics Anonymous and found a sponsor, stating he expressed immediate remorse upon his release. The defense urged the judge to impose a sentence at the lower end of the agreed range.
Judicial Procedures and Sentencing Standards
The sentencing phase in this case highlights the operational mechanics of plea bargains in the criminal justice system. While the plea agreement caps the potential prison time at 18 years, the judge retains the discretion to determine the exact duration based on aggravating and mitigating factors presented during the hearing. The court is tasked with weighing the severity of the offense—specifically the loss of a law enforcement officer and the high level of intoxication involved—against the defendant’s admission of guilt and lack of prior criminal history. This proceeding marks the final judicial step before the execution of the sentence, closing a case that has drawn significant attention to DUI enforcement and highway safety regulations in Colorado.
