Colorado veteran gets prison sentenced reduced by 3 years

A former soldier sentenced to eight years in prison for drunkenly shooting his friend in Colorado could be eligible for parole within a year after a judge agreed to shorten his sentence.

The Gazette reports Judge Lin Billings-Vela cited former Staff Sgt. Cory Griffin’s lack of prior criminal history and his remorse in agreeing to reduce his sentence by three years Wednesday.

Twenty-eight-year-old Griffin was arrested in 2014 after shooting his friend in the hand.

He had pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal that kept him from facing an attempted murder charge.

Billings-Vela agreed to review the sentence in February, saying details of Griffin’s treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder would play a factor in her decision.

She said Wednesday that he has been receiving adequate treatment.