By now you’ve likely heard that the driver convicted of killing Magnus White, Yeva Smilianska, who received a four-year prison sentence, has applied for early release to Community Corrections. If approved, she could be transferred after serving THREE MONTHS of her four-year sentence.

If placed in Boulder County, she would likely be assigned to the Joe Pelle Center, a facility that directly overlooks and borders the Valmont Bike Park, one of Magnus’s favorite places. As his parents shared:

“Magnus spent countless hours at Valmont. It was a place where he felt free and joyful. The idea of the person who killed him living above that park is deeply painful for us.”

If Boulder rejects her, she could be placed within the Larimer County Corrections system in Fort Collins.

Because Colorado law does not classify vehicular homicide as a violent offense, the system automatically fast-tracks cases like this toward early release. The only point of oversight is the Community Corrections Board, and they accept public input. Letters from residents of Larimer County and Boulder County carry meaningful weight.

What You Can Do

YGR readers can submit a short, personal letter urging the Community Corrections Board to deny early placement. Letters do not need to be long. They do need to be clear, thoughtful, and in your own words.

Deadline

December 10, 2025

How to Submit Your Letter

One letter covers all potential hearings. Include this reference:
SMILIANSKA, YEVA DOC# 204149

Submit by:

Email: doc_vsu@state.co.us
Mail:
Colorado Department of Corrections
Victim Service Unit
1250 Academy Park Loop
Colorado Springs, CO 80910

If you email your letter, please bcc jacqueline.claudia@thewhiteline.org so Magnus’s family can ensure it is included in the hearing packet.

What to Say (in your own words)

  • Example opening: ‘As someone whose life was touched by Magnus White, I am writing to strongly oppose the transfer of Yeva Smilianska to Community Corrections at this time…
  • The judge sentenced Yeva Smilianska to four years in prison.
  • A decision to grant Community Corrections would undermine your trust in the justice
    system.
  • The Community Corrections Board is not a “re-sentencing” board. They are not authorized to reverse a judge’s decision.
  • The sentence was intended for punishment for criminal behavior causing trauma and death, not just for rehabilitation.
  • The importance of deterrence.
  • You fear having Yeva Smilianska in the community.
  • Moving Yeva Smilianska to Community Corrections will retraumatize the victims.
  • Remember: You can talk about Magnus and/ or recap what the driver did, but do so briefly. The letter should be mostly about what you think the Community Corrections board should do at this juncture, and why.

Why This Matters

If approved, the person who killed Magnus could be living freely in either Boulder or Larimer County within months, despite serving only a small fraction of her sentence. This process happens quietly unless communities speak up.

Your letter is one of the few tools available to influence the outcome and support Magnus’s family.

YGR will continue to share updates as they become available.

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