Man who fled during Arapahoe Co. trial gets 23-year prison sentence

A Denver man who cut off his GPS monitor and skipped out during his trial was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

An Arapahoe County jury convicted Miguel Angel Leon-Caballero, 24, in absentia on Jan. 25, 2019. The jury convicted him of aggravated robbery, a Class 3 felony; second-degree assault, a Class 4 felony; motor vehicle theft, a Class 5 felony; criminal mischief, a Class 5 felony; and driving under restraint, a misdemeanor.

Leon-Caballero was arrested April 26 in Denver.

Arapahoe County District Court Judge Andrew Baum sentenced him on Monday to a total of 23 years in the Department of Corrections.

“The evidence presented at trial was so compelling, even the armed robber — who was on probation when he committed his crime — was convinced … so he took off,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “There is no better way to signal to the court and the community that you are indeed guilty than to cut off your GPS ankle monitor and flee the jury trial you insisted upon.”

On July 19, 2017 in Aurora, Leon-Caballero and an accomplice were getting a ride from the victim in a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado extended-cab pickup. The victim told police Leon-Caballero tried to strangle him with a phone charger cord, but he got away. The victim ran from the truck after the assault. The defendant and his accomplice drove away in the truck.

Authorities later found the stolen truck, and surveillance videos and other evidence corroborated the victim’s statements.

“The defendant re-victimized the community when he cut off his GPS and fled during his trial. Hopefully this sentence will allow the victims & the community to feel some sense of security,” said Deputy District Attorney Francisco Martinez, who prosecuted the case. “We are proud of law enforcement for never giving up on their pursuit of the defendant to make sure he got his day in court.”