A Cañon City chiropractor was sentenced Wednesday to five years in the Department of Corrections for one count of second-degree assault.

Larry  Sutton, 61, originally was charged with felony menacing, second-degree assault and second-degree burglary. The charges include a domestic violence sentence enhancer.

Sutton entered a guilty plea in the case in April. One count of assault and the burglary count both were dismissed as part of the agreement. 

“People are allowed the safety and security of their homes,” said District Attorney Thom LeDoux, of Sutton’s actions. “The defendant was completely out of control.”
In pleading guilty, Sutton admitted to breaking into the home of his ex-wife and assaulting her and her companion with an aluminum baseball bat.

“The defendant takes no real accountability for the crime,” LeDoux said.

He referenced a 21-page, handwritten letter to the court from Sutton, “that is nothing but justification.”

Public defender Ramsey Lama said with the exception of this case, his client has no criminal record.

“He is accepting accountability,” Lama said. “He is regretful. He is remorseful.”
He added that Sutton will lose his ability to practice as a chiropractor which he has done in Cañon City since 1979.

“I am truly sorry to one and all,” Sutton said in his statement to the court. “I am truly sorry and remorseful.”

District Judge David Thorson said his first reaction to the case was that it was an exceedingly serious offense.

“You got a really good deal,” Thorson told Sutton. “The occupants of the house would have been perfectly justified to shoot you dead, legally justified.”

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