50-year sentence for murder of ex-LTBMU chief
By Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee
Andy Harris came to the courtroom Friday with a lengthy prepared statement: a tribute to Robert “Bob” Harris, the former U.S. Forest Service supervisor for the Tahoe basin and the father he loved and idolized.
In his written text, the son was also going to ask the judge to show no mercy for his stepmother, Colleen Harris, 73, the woman who had “murdered my dad in cold blood.”
But after stepping up to the court lectern, Andy Harris, a Grass Valley attorney, couldn’t compose himself to read. His voice stammered. He began to weep. He junked the script and just started talking.
Colleen Harris would show no emotion minutes later when the judge sent her to prison for 50 years to life.
This double murderer should have been sentenced to life without parole with a lethal option to choose. This would send a stronger message about her deliberate actions. Sadly the first jury bought the snake oil from the fraud salesman known as the little winer.
That this case called for ‘justice’ is unmistakable, especially given the “again” circumstance of several decades ago. . . I knew Bob for many years, as we went into the Tahoe forest many times in & after his capacity of Forest Supervisor here . . .always aware, always helpful, always open to new (& especially better) ideas. . .a great person
His involvement with this woman says nothing for or about her, but everything about his ability to forgive, and move on, which in this case led to his demise. . .So sad & sorry.
In a strange way, it personally reminds me of the case of Spider Sabich, another of my early Sierra connections, who was also victimized by an amorous relationship, undeserving of an early death at the hands of a “gun”, which so many cherish having for “defense” – but are used defensively very rarely, if ever. . .