Former Fort Carson soldier Louis Bressler was sentenced to 60 years in prison Monday for his role in two killings and a stabbing after his return from serving in Iraq.

The sentencing closes the book on a crime spree by three former soldiers, although none of them was convicted of being the shooter.

“It’s not perfect justice,” said Deputy District Attorney Jack Roth, “but it’s some justice. It’s nowhere near what they deserve.”

Bressler, 25, was sentenced to 12 years for being an accessory to murder in the August 2007 death of Army Pfc. Robert James, 24, an Iraq war veteran whose bullet-riddled body was found in a bank parking lot on Lake Avenue. According to testimony during the murder trial, Bressler and another soldier, Bruce Bastien Jr., had been out drinking and decided to rob James, who also had been drinking and had been dropped off near the Army post.

Bastien told a detective that James pleaded for his life before being shot four times in the head and neck. The men spent the $20 to $45 they stole on marijuana, the detective testified that Bastien told him.

Bressler also was sentenced to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder in the December 2007 shooting death of Army Spc. Kevin Shields, 23.

Shields’ body was found on a sidewalk in the 200 block of South 16th Street near Old Colorado City. The Iraq war vet, investigators determined, was shot with the same .38-caliber revolver that killed James. It was purchased by Bressler’s wife and later recovered by Colorado Springs police. According to investigators, Shields, who had served in the same platoon in Iraq with Bressler and Bastien, was killed because Bressler and Bastien feared he would turn them in for crimes they had bragged about committing or were planning.

Bressler also was sentenced to 20 years for aggravated robbery in the October 2007 stabbing of Erica Hamm.

The 20-year and 40-year sentences will be served one after the other, while the 12-year term will be served at the same time and won’t add to Bressler’s time in prison.

Bastien also was sentenced to 60 years in prison after agreeing to testify against Bressler.

He reneged on the agreement, however, leaving prosecutors without a witnesses to James’ murder when Bressler went to trial.

Another former soldier, Kenneth Eastridge, 24, was sentenced last fall to 10 years for being an accessory in Shields’ murder under a plea agreement. He testified that he saw Bressler shoot Shields, but jurors convicted Bressler only of conspiracy.

Fourth Judicial District Judge Theresa Cisneros said she found it hard to believe that Bressler had served his country in Iraq only to come home and kill two fellow soldiers.

“I can’t justify anything less than 60 years,” she said.

Several relatives of the victims berated Bressler before his sentencing.

Shields’ mother, Debra Shields, lashed out at Bressler, who sat with his head bowed throughout the more than two-hour hearing.

“I never knew it was possible to feel so much anger at an individual,” she said. “This defendant has left a hole in my heart and soul that will never mend.”

Ivan and Madlyn Shields, the victim’s grandparents, described Shields as a vibrant young man who loved sports, embraced service to his country and was getting acquainted with his young children.

“He always strived to make us proud of him,” Madlyn Shields said.

Now, she said, “all we can do is visit his crypt. At our age, it should be the other way around. It’s like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.”

Ivan Shields said he was certain Bressler was the killer. “This defendant has no idea how much pain he’s caused,” he said.

Rose Mendoza, James’ sister, said he was her only relative, and Bressler deserves the severest punishment for his murder.

“I want Bressler to know I think he’s nothing but a coward and lowlife and a poor excuse for a human being,” she said.

Bressler’s attorney, Ed Farry, said his client had been discharged early from the Army in part because he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bressler offered a brief apology. “I know no one will believe what I say, but I’m sorry. I apologize,” he said. “That’s pretty much it.”

Roth said after the hearing that Bastien won’t be retried despite reneging on his agreement to testify against Bressler because he’s already serving the same sentence as Bressler.

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Louis Bressler Photo by

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