Roommate pleads guilty to evidence tampering in 2018 shooting that killed CSU student

Sady Swanson | The Coloradoan

The 22-year-old charged in connection with his roommate's shooting death near Colorado State University in 2018 has pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence associated with the death.

Colemann Carver pleaded guilty to the felony charge during a Thursday court hearing. Prosecutors say he removed ammunition and threw away beer cans before calling 911 after Finnegan Daly, a 21-year-old CSU student just months shy of graduation, was fatally shot in the head.

Fort Collins police ruled Daly's death an accidental, self-inflicted shooting and closed the case two months later. The case was reopened after Daly's family confronted the Fort Collins police chief with a glaring omission from the first case: an image posted to Snapchat by Daly that showed Carver holding the gun that killed him about 15 minutes before the 911 call at 3:27 a.m. Jan. 14, 2018. The Snap contradicts Carver’s statements to police about what happened that night, but wasn't mentioned in the initial investigative report.

Carver, who was not charged with shooting Daly, pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with the Larimer County District Attorney's Office. Two misdemeanor charges were dismissed as part of that agreement, according to court records.

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As part of the agreement, Carver would receive a two-year deferred sentence following an expected December sentencing. In those two years, Carver would be required to complete a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, and abstain from using alcohol, marijuana or other drugs not prescribed to him. He would also undergo random substance abuse testing and be ordered to complete community service — the number of hours would be up to Judge Susan Blanco.

Carver would also not be allowed to posses, use or own firearms during that two-year period. The agreement also requires he complete a National Rifle Association home firearms safety course and write a 1,000-word essay on the dangers of using firearms while under the influence of alcohol — as he was the night Daly was shot.

If Carver completes all the terms of his deferred sentence in the two years, he would withdraw his guilty plea, a felony conviction would not enter on his record, and he could request for his record to be sealed from the public, Blanco advised him Thursday.

If Carver does not complete those terms, he could face 12 to 18 months in prison and up to a $100,000 fine, Blanco said.

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Daly's family "has expressed objections to this agreement," the district attorney told Blanco during Thursday's hearing. Because of that, the prosecution asked for an extended time for sentencing to allow the family to express their concerns.

"We feel that this is a fair resolution," Carver's attorney Derek Samuelson said, adding, "I want to make sure all voices in this case are heard."

Blanco accepted the agreement and Carver's guilty plea, "pending the arguments at sentencing."

Carver's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4 at the Larimer County Justice Center.

Colorado Sun reporter John Frank contributed to this report.

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Sady Swanson covers crime, courts, public safety and more throughout Northern Colorado. You can send your story ideas to her at sswanson@coloradoan.com or on Twitter at @sadyswan. Support our work and local journalism with a digital subscription at Coloradoan.com/subscribe.