Driver in road rage incident sentenced to more than three decades in prison

A Colorado Springs man who ran over another man during a road rage incident was sentenced to 32 years in prison Friday.

Nathaniel Mancha, 30, was convicted of first degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident on October 6.

Mancha was also on trial for attempted murder in the case. The jury could not agree on a verdict on that charge.

The charges stemmed from a March incident during which Mancha drove over Anthony Jafari, 30, in a parking lot near Academy Blvd. and Vickers Dr.

At the opening of the trial on September 26, Jafari took the stand and said he was driving in a van with his dog when Mancha’s truck sideswiped him. Jafari said eventually he got out and confronted Mancha while holding a long wrench.

“I was so frustrated with the whole situation, I was ready to let it go,” Jafari said. “But I wanted to stop the nonsense and find out what was going on. If my van was damaged, I wanted someone held responsible.”

Jafari said he cursed violently at Mancha and another person in the truck, but did not seriously threaten them.

Jafari denied that he provoked Mancha by yelling gay slurs at him. He also denied being incensed by a rainbow symbol for gay pride on Mancha’s truck.