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Columbine middleman's 41/2-year sentence sends a message to others, says case prosecutor
By Sue LindsayDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
GOLDEN — The middleman who helped the Columbine High School killers get a gun used in last year's rampage was sentenced to 41/2 years in prison Friday. Philip Duran, 23, who barely moved a muscle during the two-hour sentencing hearing, showed no reaction as he was led away by Jefferson County deputies. His new wife, Christina, hung her head and cried. His father, Rueben Duran, leaned forward and shook his head. Duran's friends and family, who filled one side of the courtroom, sobbed. "Be strong, Phil," said one as he was led away. "We love you Phil," said others. On the other side of the courtroom, family members of those killed at Columbine left quietly, few of them wanting to talk. They had told the judge about their relentless pain and endless tears. They had asked for a maximum sentence but knew the holes in their hearts would never heal. Philip Duran put Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in touch with Mark Manes, the man who sold them a TEC-DC9 assault pistol used to kill four students and injure two others April 20, 1999. Duran pleaded guilty to the same charges Manes did — providing a handgun to a minor and possessing an illegal sawed-off shotgun used in target practice with Klebold and Harris. Manes, who also bought ammunition for the gun, was sentenced to six years in prison last November. In a videotape made a month before the rampage, Klebold and Harris thanked Manes and Duran for their help. "I'd like to make a thank you to Mark and Phil," Klebold said. "Very cool. You helped us do what we needed to do." But the killers urged police not to hold them responsible for the carnage to come. "If they wouldn't have ... helped us out, then we would have found someone else. We would have gone on and on." Defense attorney Matt DePetro sought a probation or community-corrections sentence, noting that Duran had no prior record and, unlike Manes, wasn't directly involved in the gun deal. "We must temper our hurt, anger and resentment today and not punish Philip Duran for the horrific acts of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold," he said. But Jefferson County Chief District Judge Thomas Woodford said a prison sentence was necessary. "Because of the tremendous impact of this tragedy, there must be a prison sentence to show the world that conduct like this must be dealt with very seriously," he said. Deterrence is one purpose of sentencing, he said, and wouldn't be accomplished by a probation sentence because the public views it as inconsequential. "The public doesn't understand probation," Woodford said. "They see it as a slap on the hand, and it is not. It involves real restrictions on a person's liberty. ... But I must impose a sentence that the public understands." Prosecutors, who asked for no specific sentence, said they were satisfied. "This goes a long way toward achieving justice in this case," said Prosecutor Steve Jensen. In addition to punishing Duran, it "deters others who would give guns to kids" because they know they will be sentenced "in proportion to the harm caused by the juvenile with the gun." The Duran family declined comment. Duran is the second and last person to plead guilty to crimes related to the Columbine High tragedy. Authorities said Klebold's girlfriend, Robyn Anderson, broke no laws when she bought a rifle and two shotguns later used at Columbine. The shotguns were sawed off by Harris and Klebold after she bought them, and District Attorney Dave Thomas said there was no evidence that she knew what the killers' plans were. Patricia Duran told the judge her son was in Chicago when he heard news about the rampage. She said he frantically and repeatedly called for updates, knowing that his younger sister and brother were inside the school. "When he learned who the killers were, he was mortified and devastated," she said. Duran read a brief statement to the court and turned to apologize to the family members of the victims. "I'm sorry that I had anything to do with this tragedy," Philip Duran told the judge. "I willingly take my punishment and will pay for my choices for the rest of my life." Contact Sue Lindsay at (303) 892-5181, or at lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com. June 24, 2000
GOLDEN — The middleman who helped the Columbine High School killers get a gun used in last year's rampage was sentenced to 41/2 years in prison Friday.
Philip Duran, 23, who barely moved a muscle during the two-hour sentencing hearing, showed no reaction as he was led away by Jefferson County deputies.
His new wife, Christina, hung her head and cried. His father, Rueben Duran, leaned forward and shook his head.
Duran's friends and family, who filled one side of the courtroom, sobbed. "Be strong, Phil," said one as he was led away. "We love you Phil," said others.
On the other side of the courtroom, family members of those killed at Columbine left quietly, few of them wanting to talk. They had told the judge about their relentless pain and endless tears. They had asked for a maximum sentence but knew the holes in their hearts would never heal.
Philip Duran put Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in touch with Mark Manes, the man who sold them a TEC-DC9 assault pistol used to kill four students and injure two others April 20, 1999.
Duran pleaded guilty to the same charges Manes did — providing a handgun to a minor and possessing an illegal sawed-off shotgun used in target practice with Klebold and Harris.
Manes, who also bought ammunition for the gun, was sentenced to six years in prison last November.
In a videotape made a month before the rampage, Klebold and Harris thanked Manes and Duran for their help. "I'd like to make a thank you to Mark and Phil," Klebold said. "Very cool. You helped us do what we needed to do."
But the killers urged police not to hold them responsible for the carnage to come. "If they wouldn't have ... helped us out, then we would have found someone else. We would have gone on and on."
Defense attorney Matt DePetro sought a probation or community-corrections sentence, noting that Duran had no prior record and, unlike Manes, wasn't directly involved in the gun deal.
"We must temper our hurt, anger and resentment today and not punish Philip Duran for the horrific acts of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold," he said.
But Jefferson County Chief District Judge Thomas Woodford said a prison sentence was necessary.
"Because of the tremendous impact of this tragedy, there must be a prison sentence to show the world that conduct like this must be dealt with very seriously," he said.
Deterrence is one purpose of sentencing, he said, and wouldn't be accomplished by a probation sentence because the public views it as inconsequential.
"The public doesn't understand probation," Woodford said. "They see it as a slap on the hand, and it is not. It involves real restrictions on a person's liberty. ... But I must impose a sentence that the public understands."
Prosecutors, who asked for no specific sentence, said they were satisfied.
"This goes a long way toward achieving justice in this case," said Prosecutor Steve Jensen. In addition to punishing Duran, it "deters others who would give guns to kids" because they know they will be sentenced "in proportion to the harm caused by the juvenile with the gun."
The Duran family declined comment.
Duran is the second and last person to plead guilty to crimes related to the Columbine High tragedy.
Authorities said Klebold's girlfriend, Robyn Anderson, broke no laws when she bought a rifle and two shotguns later used at Columbine. The shotguns were sawed off by Harris and Klebold after she bought them, and District Attorney Dave Thomas said there was no evidence that she knew what the killers' plans were.
Patricia Duran told the judge her son was in Chicago when he heard news about the rampage. She said he frantically and repeatedly called for updates, knowing that his younger sister and brother were inside the school.
"When he learned who the killers were, he was mortified and devastated," she said.
Duran read a brief statement to the court and turned to apologize to the family members of the victims.
"I'm sorry that I had anything to do with this tragedy," Philip Duran told the judge. "I willingly take my punishment and will pay for my choices for the rest of my life."
Contact Sue Lindsay at (303) 892-5181, or at lindsays@RockyMountainNews.com.
June 24, 2000