Monday marked a "historic" day for El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal and Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen in their offices' combined goal of curbing fentanyl usage.
Katariina Gibson, 27, was found guilty of two charges stemming from her introduction of drugs, specifically fentanyl, to the El Paso County jail that caused the death of 44-year-old inmate Renee Lowrance.
Lowrance died on Jan. 20, just 10 days into Roybal's tenure as El Paso County Sheriff, something he said was "as bad as it gets" for a sheriff in charge of a jail.
"Inside the jail I have a tremendous responsibility of keeping contraband, especially illicit drugs, out of the facility because of the risk of death," Roybal said. "She (Lowrance) was in my jail, but she's a victim, and I am committed to seeking justice for all victims, regardless of where they're at in El Paso County."
With a stated desire to prevent inmate deaths and fentanyl usage in the county, Roybal and Allen collaborated to land what they both described as a historic conviction.
According to Allen, Gibson's conviction marks the first time that someone in Colorado has been convicted in trial of proximate cause of death by unlawful distribution of fentanyl.
The charge came into being under the Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Act, signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis last year, which, among many things, aimed to bring stricter penalties for fentanyl distribution crimes, including causing the death of another person.
"Outside of the Fourth Judicial District there's not been another case (under the Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention Act) that's been taken to a jury trial," Allen said. "That's why it's historic. It's a brand-new law that's being used down here in an unprecedented and very effective way to go after drug distributors."
Roybal said that when Gibson was initially charged he posted the press release about the news across the jail, "as a warning."
With Gibson now convicted, Roybal intends on printing out a poster-size image of the news to display during intake, warning new inmates to give up their drugs via the jail's amnesty program, or, risk serious conviction.
"That way we can say, 'you'll be charged. Here's the proof,'" Roybal said.
Roybal said that the news of Gibson's initial charge was one reason inmate deaths at the El Paso County jail have decreased in 2023. With the news of a conviction and potential jail sentence, Roybal and Allen hope the precedent being set in the county is now clear.
"If you bring contraband, illicit drugs in my jail, we're going to hold you accountable," Roybal said. "We're going to do everything within our power, one, to prevent it from entering, but two, if you do distribute it, we will prosecute you."
Allen said the pill taken by Lowrance that ultimately led to her death was split in half and shared with a second inmate.
"It really talks about the lack of scientific precision that cartels are using to mix these drugs," Allen said.
Gibson is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2024, where Allen said she faces a potential prison sentence of eight to 32 years, but could also be eligible for probation. Allen said that the District Attorney's Office will be pursuing a prison sentence, and that he hopes Gibson's previous convictions — as well as her status as being on probation for a separate 2020 drug possession charge at the time of the incident — leads to the judge opting to give a prison sentence.
Court records obtained by The Gazette detail that Gibson has a lengthy criminal record in El Paso County, with several drug-related criminal convictions dating back to 2019.
Gibson originally faced a third charge, distribution of a controlled substance, but Allen said that charge was dismissed during trial as part of the prosecution's trial strategy.
Previous reporting from The Gazette details that detectives determined that the drugs Lowrance received were smuggled into jail by Gibson the day before Lowrance's death on Jan. 19, according Gibson's arrest affidavit.
The affidavit states that detectives reviewed intake scans of Gibson from the day of her arrest and noticed "abnormalities" on the scan, which law enforcement believed to be drugs she had in a plastic bag inside her body.
Roybal said during the interview with The Gazette that Lowrance's death did not lead to any widespread changes to the jail's prisoner intake procedures, but that they have since bought a new scanner that provides "a lot more detail" than the previous one.
"That, along with our amnesty program, we hope will make a big difference," Roybal said.
The affidavit states that security footage from inside the jail shows that Gibson spent time with Lowrance and her cellmate following her arrest, including being caught on security camera handing an unidentified object to Lowrance in her jail cell the day she died.
Gibson remains in custody at the El Paso County jail pending the results of her upcoming sentencing hearing.