The District Attorney — 18th Judicial District
  • Our Office
    • About Us
      • Meet the District Attorney
      • Mission Statement
      • Law Enforcement Partners
      • Unified Metropolitan Forensic Crime Lab
      • Forms and Brochures
      • Organization Chart
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • General Courts
      • District Court
      • Juvenile Court
      • County Court
    • Specialized Units
      • Conviction Integrity Unit
      • Cold Case
      • Appeals
      • Vehicular Homicide Unit
      • Diversion Counseling Program
      • Special Victims Unit (SVU)
      • Domestic Violence Unit
      • Human Trafficking Unit
      • Elder and at Risk Unit
      • Economic Crime Unit
      • Problem Solving Courts
    • Support Units
      • Finance Unit
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Technology
      • Investigations
      • Victim Witness Unit
      • Central Services
      • Victim Compensation
  • Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Victim Services
    • Victim Witness Unit
      • Victim Impact Statement and Restitution Information
    • Victim Rights
    • Victim Compensation
    • Domestic Violence
      • Domestic Violence Fast Track
    • Sexual Assault
    • Sex Offender Locator
  • Community Outreach
    • Newsletter
    • Consumer Fraud Protection
      • Community Presentations
      • Wage Theft
      • Fraud Alerts
      • Bad Check Restitution Program — DISCONTINUED
    • Outreach
    • Events
      • Senior Law & Safety Summit: May 21, 2022
      • Second Chances Warrant Clearance
      • Community Conversations
      • Citizen’s Academy
    • Volunteer
  • Reports
    • Data Dashboards
    • Financial Reports
    • Media
    • News Releases
    • Records Request
    • Officer-Involved Shootings
    • Peace Officer Credibility Disclosure Notification
  • Prosecution
    • Criminal Justice Glossary
    • Courtroom Diagram
    • Records Request
    • Docket Search
Charges filed against ex-Aurora police officer involved in...
Jury convicts Colorado Springs man in deadly DUI...
Sex offender who posed as Immigration Official and...
Report of October 25, 2022 officer-involved shooting in...
Report of December 1, 2022 officer-involved shooting in...
Ex-Aurora officer found guilty of failing to stop...
Report of November 30, 2022 officer-involved shooting
Bond increased to $750,000 for defendant charged in...
Two teens sentenced in 2021 shooting outside Hinkley...
Teenager charged with threats targeting targeting Colorado Springs...

The District Attorney — 18th Judicial District

  • Our Office
    • About Us
      • Meet the District Attorney
      • Mission Statement
      • Law Enforcement Partners
      • Unified Metropolitan Forensic Crime Lab
      • Forms and Brochures
      • Organization Chart
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • General Courts
      • District Court
      • Juvenile Court
      • County Court
    • Specialized Units
      • Conviction Integrity Unit
      • Cold Case
      • Appeals
      • Vehicular Homicide Unit
      • Diversion Counseling Program
      • Special Victims Unit (SVU)
      • Domestic Violence Unit
      • Human Trafficking Unit
      • Elder and at Risk Unit
      • Economic Crime Unit
      • Problem Solving Courts
    • Support Units
      • Finance Unit
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Technology
      • Investigations
      • Victim Witness Unit
      • Central Services
      • Victim Compensation
  • Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Victim Services
    • Victim Witness Unit
      • Victim Impact Statement and Restitution Information
    • Victim Rights
    • Victim Compensation
    • Domestic Violence
      • Domestic Violence Fast Track
    • Sexual Assault
    • Sex Offender Locator
  • Community Outreach
    • Newsletter
    • Consumer Fraud Protection
      • Community Presentations
      • Wage Theft
      • Fraud Alerts
      • Bad Check Restitution Program — DISCONTINUED
    • Outreach
    • Events
      • Senior Law & Safety Summit: May 21, 2022
      • Second Chances Warrant Clearance
      • Community Conversations
      • Citizen’s Academy
    • Volunteer
  • Reports
    • Data Dashboards
    • Financial Reports
    • Media
    • News Releases
    • Records Request
    • Officer-Involved Shootings
    • Peace Officer Credibility Disclosure Notification
  • Prosecution
    • Criminal Justice Glossary
    • Courtroom Diagram
    • Records Request
    • Docket Search

Prison for drunk driver who killed Grandview cheerleader

August 14, 2018

A Conifer man who was driving at 2.5 times the legal limit for alcohol when he hit another car and killed a 16-year-old cheerleader from Grandview High School is going to prison.

Christopher Tetley

Christopher Tetley


On June 1, Christopher K. Tetley, 25, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide-DUI and two counts of vehicular assault-DUI in the July 25, 2017, crash that killed Phoebe Lester and seriously injured two others in the car with her.

Prosecutors dismissed lesser counts as part of the plea agreement.

On Aug. 9, Arapahoe District Court Judge Kurt Horton sentenced Tetley to 11 years in the Department of Corrections.

“What does it take to get people to stop getting behind the wheel when they are drunk?” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Even after Tetley is released from prison to rejoin society, he will know that his selfish decision has snuffed out a bright life. We will continue to seek prison sentences to send the message that this is not acceptable ever. Perhaps one day, our legislature will prioritize the protection of our families on the roads and mandate prison for those who drive intoxicated and kill the innocent; for now, it remains a probation-eligible charge.”

On July 25, 2017, close to midnight, Tetley was driving his 2016 Hyundai Sonata east on East Orchard Road near South Genoa Street in Arapahoe County.

Phoebe was a back seat passenger in a 2011 Audi A4 driven by one of her friends. A third friend was the front seat passenger. They were northbound on South Genoa Street. The friends were taking Phoebe home to meet her curfew after watching movies at the home of another friend.

The Audi was making a left turn onto westbound East Orchard when the Hyundai hit it broadside. Every person involved was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Phoebe was pronounced dead at Parker Adventist Hospital. The Arapahoe coroner concluded she died from multiple blunt force injuries. The other two occupants suffered multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury.

The Colorado State Patrol investigated the crash and determined the Hyundai was speeding at 75 mph three seconds before the crash and 65 mph at the time of impact. The posted limit on that section of East Orchard is 40 mph. The Audi was travelling at 27 mph at the time of the crash.

A trooper who interviewed Tetley at the hospital noted that he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Tetley said he had three beers before driving.

Toxicology reports showed Tetley’s blood-alcohol content was 0.216 grams of ethyl alcohol per 100 mL of blood approximately 45 minutes after the crash. The limit for being under the influence is 0.08.

“Although we are glad we were able to obtain a measure of justice for Phoebe and the other two victims, the fact remains that these families’ lives have been changed irrevocably by the defendant’s selfish and dangerous actions,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka, who tried the case with Deputy District Attorney Eric Johnson. “Killing or hurting people while driving drunk is an entirely preventable tragedy. Please don’t drive drunk. Just don’t.”

Prison for drunk driver who killed Grandview cheerleader was last modified: August 14th, 2018 by Eric Ross

Recent Posts

  • Charges filed against ex-Aurora police officer involved in on-duty fatal crash
  • Jury convicts Colorado Springs man in deadly DUI crash on I-25 frontage road
  • Sex offender who posed as Immigration Official and assaulted young girls sentenced to four decades in prison
  • Report of October 25, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Lone Tree
  • Report of December 1, 2022 officer-involved shooting in Greenwood Village
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Footer Logo
  • Our Office
  • Victim Services
  • Community Outreach
  • Media
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
  • Prosecution
  • Disclaimer Policy

© 2022 - DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE 18 JUDICIAL DISTRICT