(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — The jury trial for the suspect involved in a tragic hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a Pueblo Parole Officer is set to begin on Monday, Feb. 10 at the El Paso County Courthouse.

Justin Kula is accused of hitting and killing Pueblo Parole Officer Christine Guerin Sandoval. In Sept. 2023, the suspect allegedly hit Sandoval and another officer while they attempted to stop Kula during a welfare check near downtown Colorado Springs.

Sandoval later died of her injuries, and Kula was captured after a large-scale search. Sandoval worked for the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years, where she was honored with the 2018 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, before joining the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Officer Sandoval left behind her mother, three siblings, a husband, and two children.

Courtesy: FOX21 News

Kula will face trial on multiple counts, including charges of Reckless Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, Third-Degree Assault, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and three sentence enhancers as a habitual criminal according to court documents.

In March 2024, Kula entered a not guilty plea after a judge ruled there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial.