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September 24, 2025 39 mins

Did This Ex-Police Officer Get a Fair Trial? Was he guilty of 2nd degree murder? The case of former Rocky Ford Police Officer James Ashby continues to raise questions. You can listen and decide for yourself. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.

A Fatal Encounter in Colorado. James is the guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most podcast platforms.

In October 2014, Ashby shot and killed a 27-year-old inside his home while on duty. Prosecutors said Ashby followed the young man after a confrontation on the street and ultimately fired the fatal shot in front of his mother. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin . Did This Ex-Police Officer Get a Fair Trial? Was he guilty of 2nd degree murder?

In 2016, a jury convicted Ashby of second-degree murder, making him the first Colorado officer in decades to be found guilty of murder for an on-duty shooting. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Ashby’s Side of the Story

Speaking recently on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms, Ashby described the trial as deeply flawed.

“I was bewildered by the continued prosecution,” Ashby said. “There were problems with the investigation, and I couldn’t believe it when the jury came back with a guilty verdict.” Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Did This Ex-Police Officer Get a Fair Trial?

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He spent more than eight years behind bars before being transferred to a halfway house. Ashby now says his prison experience was nothing like what the public sees from Hollywood. “So much of what people think they know about prison comes from TV and legacy media,” he explained. “The reality is far different.”

Legal Challenges and Appeals

Ashby has not stopped fighting his conviction. His defense has filed multiple appeals, most recently a 35C motion claiming ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, and lack of access to critical police reports.

Despite these claims, the court denied relief, leaving his 16-year sentence in place. “It’s frustrating,” Ashby said. “We know there were serious issues in the trial, but the system doesn’t want to admit mistakes.”

The trial judge himself called it “the most difficult case he’s had and probably will ever have.” Did This Ex-Police Officer Get a Fair Trial? Was he guilty of 2nd degree murder?

Rare Conviction for a Police Officer

The rarity of Ashby’s conviction cannot be overstated. In the United States, it is unusual for law enforcement officers to be prosecuted and convicted of murder in the line of duty.

Jurors deliberated for 11 hours before finding him guilty. Though Ashby originally faced up to 48 years in prison, he received a 16-year sentence. Meanwhile, the young man's family won a $1.3 million settlement against the City of Rocky Ford, alleging that city officials acted irresponsibly in hiring Ashby.

A Mission to Clear His Name

Now, Ashby is speaking out through social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, sharing his story under the page Prisoner of War on Police. Did This Ex-Police Officer Get a Fair Trial?

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