Paul Stephenson will spend the rest of his life behind bars plus 92 years for a heinous DUI crash that stole the life of a beloved Air Force Colonel and irreparably harmed his family.
At a Glance
● Paul Stephenson, 57, a repeat offender, has been sentenced to life in prison plus 92 years for a fatal DUI crash.
● The August 2024 crash killed U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matt Anderson, 42, and severely injured his four children.
● Stephenson had a blood alcohol level 2.5 times the legal limit and was convicted of first-degree murder with extreme indifference.
● The victim’s family and prosecutors hope the maximum sentence sends a strong message about the consequences of drunk driving.
Life in Prison for a Fatal DUI Crash
In a sentence that brings a measure of closure to a devastated family, Paul Stephenson, 57, will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a U.S. Air Force officer and severely injuring his four children in a drunken driving crash. On Thursday, July 3, 2025, a Colorado judge handed down the maximum possible sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 92 years.
The sentence comes after a jury convicted Stephenson, a serial DUI offender, of first-degree murder with extreme indifference for the crash on August 4, 2024.
A Selfish Act, A Tragic Loss
On that day, Lt. Col. Matt Anderson, 42, had taken his four children to the Douglas County Fair and was pumping gas at a 7-Eleven in Castle Rock, Colorado, on their way home. Stephenson, whose blood alcohol level was 2.5 times the legal limit, plowed his vehicle into them. The crash killed Lt. Col. Anderson and left his children with serious injuries.
“It is a bitter irony that on the eve of our nation’s celebration of independence, we mourn the loss of one of America’s great Patriots—not in combat, but at the hands of a selfish act,” District Attorney George Brauchler said in a statement.
No Remorse, No Mercy
Throughout the trial, prosecutors highlighted Stephenson’s complete lack of remorse for his actions. “The defendant has not taken any responsibility, not then and not now,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Nate Marsh told the court, according to The Gazette. “He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
Man sentenced to life in prison for killing Air Force serviceman in fatal Castle Rock DUI crash https://t.co/fdUMpPH78G
— The Denver Gazette (@DenverGazette) July 4, 2025
The judge echoed this sentiment during sentencing, telling Stephenson, “Frankly, Mr. Stephenson, it baffles me that you have not shown one ounce of empathy for the Anderson family.”
The victim’s father, Wayne Anderson, spoke on behalf of the family after the sentencing. “I hope this sends a message to people that just go out and get all drunk up and get in their car, truck, or whatever, and go drive somewhere,” he told Yahoo News. “He killed a guy. He killed him.”
