Grand Junction—The young man who shot and killed Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Geer over two years ago will not be tried in court. 20 year old Austin Holzer pled guilty today to second degree murder, first degree assault and a crime of violence in the death of Deputy Geer. Holzer was 17 at the time of the crime that shocked all of Western Colorado in February of 2016. Holzer was charged as an adult and decided to enter his guilty plea today before a jury was selected. In exchange for the plea with prosecutors, Holzer will serve a prison sentence of 70 years.
