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
Ex-Taekwondo instructor sentenced to five decades in prison...
Report of June 1, 2023 officer-involved shooting in...
Enrollment open for Fall 2023 Citizen’s Academy
MS-13 gang member sentenced to life in prison...
Defendant in Douglas County double-homicide case sentenced to...
Arrest warrant issued in 2007 double-homicide cold case...
Report of February 2, 2023 officer-involved shooting in...
Colorado Springs woman sentenced to two decades in...
Jury returns guilty verdict for Littleton man who...
More than 100 warrants cancelled during ‘Second Chances’...

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

10 years in prison for Aurora drunk driving death

September 5, 2018

An Aurora man has been sentenced to prison for driving drunk without a license, crashing, and killing the woman who was a passenger in his car.

Maurice Palmer

Maurice Palmer


Arapahoe County District Judge Andrew Baum on Friday sentenced Maurice Palmer, 32, to 10 years in the Department of Corrections for the 2016 death of Ananiece Foshee, who was 28.

On April 26, 2018, Palmer pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide DUI in Foshee’s death. Lesser charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

“Another life lost due to the selfish decision-making of a drunk driver. There is no mystery to ending drunk driving fatalities immediately: Do not drive if you have been drinking or ingesting intoxicating substances,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Overnight, we could end this scourge on our roads from which there is no protection for our families. Until drunk and high drivers put the safety of our community over their short-sighted interests, our office will continue to seek prison for the deaths they cause.”

On July 2, 2016, Palmer and Foshee were at a bowling alley in Aurora. During the evening Palmer smoked marijuana and drank alcohol.

About 10:30 p.m., the two walked out to Palmer’s black Ford Explorer in the parking lot. Surveillance video shows Foshee walked to the driver side door, but Palmer got in the driver seat. There was a discussion, and Foshee ended up in the passenger seat.

At 10:48 p.m. police responded to the intersection of South Chambers Road and East Crestline Avenue where the Explorer had hit a light pole. Both Palmer and Foshee were ejected.

Palmer was treated at a hospital; Foshee died.

Palmer told police Foshee was driving. The evidence and video told a different story.

The crash data recorder from the Explorer indicated the SUV was travelling at 80 mph when it hit the light pole. The posted speed limit on Chambers Road at that location is 40 mph.

Blood samples from Palmer tested 0.133 BAC. The limit for drunk driving is 0.08 BAC.

Palmer’s driver’s license was revoked in 2014 because of his status as a habitual traffic offender.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jake Adkins, who prosecuted the case, pointed to Palmer’s history — and the fact that had previously completed a DUI victim impact panel — in asking the judge to impose the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement.
Palmer “knew the consequences of driving drunk, but that was not enough to stop him,” Adkins said. “He’s been given opportunity to change his behavior, and he hasn’t done that.”

Several friends and family of Foshee also made statements during the hearing.

“I have had to endure two years of fighting for the right thing,” said Foshee’s mother, referring to the lengthy court process during which Palmer was out on bond. “When you don’t do the right thing, you have to endure the consequences.”

Foshee’s uncle also spoke of the time since the crash.

“I would like for you to consider that we have been waiting 2 years to lock him up,” he told the judge. “We are dealing with a murderer and a killer. He certainly murdered (Ananiece). … Hold him accountable and lock him up.”

Judge Baum listened, then ruled Palmer would serve 10 years.

“It appears a very bright light was extinguished because of your choices,” he told Palmer. “This is made all the more serious by the aggravating factors … I keep going back to how fast you were going and how intoxicated you were. You smoked pot, drank four shots and still thought it was Ok to get behind the wheel.”

10 years in prison for Aurora drunk driving death was last modified: September 5th, 2018 by Eric Ross

Recent Posts

  • Ex-Taekwondo instructor sentenced to five decades in prison for recording multiple children in changing rooms
  • Report of June 1, 2023 officer-involved shooting in Aurora involving 14-year-old juvenile
  • Enrollment open for Fall 2023 Citizen’s Academy
  • MS-13 gang member sentenced to life in prison without parole
  • Defendant in Douglas County double-homicide case sentenced to 97 years in prison
  • 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