Case Summary: Kevin James Lohr
DOB: 2/17/1987 Career Criminal with multiple Felonies on his record
Under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401.5, a DF1 conviction mandates 8–32 years in DOC (12 years minimum with aggravating factors). Probation or suspended sentences are explicitly prohibited.
Background
Between April 30, 2021 and August 11, 2021, defendant Kevin James Lohr (DOB 2/17/1987) amassed 17 criminal charges in El Paso County. These included:
- Two DF1s — one for drug trafficking and one for possession of a weapon by a previous offender
- Two DF4s
- One DF3
- One DF2
- One DM1
- One F6
- One T2
With a weapons enhancement in the mix, Lohr’s exposure should have been decades in prison.
Resolution
By January 13, 2022, less than nine months after the charges were filed, the entire case was resolved. Kevin Jame Lohr pled guilty to a single DF2, while all other charges — including 2 DF1s and the weapons count — were dismissed. He received the the shortest possible jail sentence of four years, and with earned time, served only two years.
Why This Outcome Stands Out
Cases with multiple DF1s, especially involving weapons, are typically protracted, contested, and resolved only after trial or extended negotiations. Lohr’s case, by contrast, moved from filing to full resolution in record time, with an outcome far below the mandatory penalties written into statute.
Such an extraordinary reduction is not explained by “normal” plea bargaining alone. Academic research and legal analysis consistently show that prosecutors reduce or dismiss top-level trafficking charges in exchange for cooperation:
- Simons (2002) — “Sentencing discounts for cooperators” (Villanova Law Review, 47, 921–975).
- Lynch (2016) — Over half of defendants in high-level drug cases avoid mandatory terms through informant agreements (Hard Bargains, Harvard University Press).
- Lewis (2012) — “Snitching” as a common pathway to reduced drug sentences (Stop Snitching, Western Michigan University).
- Grodensky (2023) — Plea bargaining outcomes shaped most heavily by cooperation (Duke University Study).
DF1 Law vs. Kevin Lohr’s Case
| Category | What the Law Requires | What Happened in Kevin James Lohr’s Case |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence Range | DF1 = 8–32 years DOC (12 years if aggravated) | Pled to DF2, received 4 years DOC (served 2) |
| Weapons Enhancement | Mandatory prison, no leniency with firearm charges | Weapons charge dismissed entirely |
| Probation Eligibility | Explicitly prohibited for DF1 convictions | Would have been possible if pled further down (DF3/DF4) |
| Case Timeline | Typically 12–24 months for complex DF1 cases | Resolved in 9 months from filing to sentencing |
| Dismissals | DF1 convictions must proceed to prison | Both DF1s and 17 other charges dismissed |
Convicted only of a single DF2. Sentenced to 4 years DOC, but with earned time served just 2 years. Both DF1s and all other major charges were dismissed.
Conclusion
The case of Kevin James Lohr illustrates the gap between statutory mandates and actual outcomes. On paper, his charges carried decades in prison. In reality, the judge sentenced him to the absolute minimum allowed by law of 4 years Department of Corrections. The speed, scale, and structure of his sentence stand as proof that Kevin James Lohr is working with the police. In Colorado, as nationwide, the unwritten trade remains the same: information in exchange for freedom.