Colorado Springs Criminal Law Blog

According to denverpost.com, a former high school teacher was arrested for alleged sexual assault charges against a minor. The 34-year-old man was taken into custody by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office after a former student claimed that she was assaulted in May 2009 and is now pregnant. The suspect has no known prior history of sexual assault in Colorado, and is being held without bail.

The 16-year-old girl who made the allegation is the only student to have reported an assault of any kind so far. Needless to say, the accused teacher was dismissed by Eagle Rock School upon being taken into custody. The school, located in Estes Park, is a private school with a year-round curriculum.

Though in this case there may be evidence that has the potential to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the accused man is in fact the father of the 16-year-old girl’s baby, the circumstances under which the alleged assault took place have yet to be completely confirmed. Whether or not he is declared guilty of sexual assault charges is an issue that the Colorado court system will have to decide.

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Posted In: Criminal Charges , Sex Crimes

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According to denverpost.com, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter plans to counteract the inflating state budget through reducing Colorado’s prison population by 1,000 in a one year period. Though it is speculated that the release could save the state a reported $19 million, it would in fact not only lead to layoffs within Colorado’s private prison sector, but would place convicted criminals back on the streets earlier than they were supposed to have been. According to Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman, the prisoner release is of “great concern” to residents all across the state of Colorado.

According to the proposed plan, parole sentences will be cut down for some former inmates to help make it possible for newly released inmates to be more closely kept track of. An estimated 5,700 inmates or paroles may see their status change as a result of the plan. It should also be pointed out that the state of Colorado, in releasing prisoners, will only grant this new freedom to non-violent sex offenders. No word was given as to when this plan would go into effect.

It is speculated that this early release of prisoners will ultimately lead to new crimes being committed sooner than they would have been if prisoner sentences would have been served in full. However, this speculation could in fact lead to false accusations, particularly since expectations to commit crimes will be higher and those who are released from prison, rehabilitated or not, will undoubtedly be more closely examined in terms of behavior, almost in defiant opposition to the belief that all people are innocent until proven guilty.

Continue reading " Cuts to Prison Pop Puts Offenders Back on the Streets " »

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Posted In: Criminal Charges , Law & Information

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According to Coloradoan.com, 15 people were indicted on 44 felony counts for operating a cocaine distribution ring that stretched from Colorado to Wyoming. The majority of “the suspects were indicted on suspicion of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act,” according to the website. The drug ring allegedly sold cocaine to local Colorado distributers.

The extent of charges to be brought against these individuals is ultimately dependent on their involvement in the day-to-day operations of the drug ring. While the story does point out that some of the individuals were more heavily involved than others, it is important to remember that involvement in any sort of crime does not automatically garner, nor should it, the same punishment for every individual declared to have been involved.

Obviously, as in most enterprises, both legal and illegal, it is commonplace that an individual or group of individuals is usually afforded more authority and control over the enterprise than most other members. In criminal trials, it is vital that those who are in fact involved in a lesser degree are not inappropriately punished, possibly at the expense of allowing a more authoritative individual to sustain lesser charges as a result.

Continue reading " 15 Busted in Drug Ring Crackdown " »

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Posted In: Criminal Charges , Drug Charges

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According to thecherrycreeknews.com, a crash scene involving a passenger car and a motorcycle was recreated for the benefit or warning motorists of the dangers associated with driving under the influence. Put on by members of the Pikes Peak Region DUI Task Force, the event marks the kickoff of the national DUI crackdown amongst motorists, particularly throughout the remaining days of summer.

According to Colorado Springs Police Department Sergeant Craig Simpson, “The Pikes Peak Region DUI Task force is committed to saving lives by using all available resources to keep drunk drivers off our highways, roads and streets. Impaired driving is a crime that has devastating impacts for the perpetrator and the victim. As the final days of summer come to a close, we hope everyone will make the right choice to designate a sober driver if they plan on drinking.” Law enforcement agencies in Colorado plan on increasing the number of active patrols who are on the lookout for impaired drivers, as well as conduct numerous saturation patrols throughout the DUI crackdown period, particularly Labor Day weekend.

Saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints are effective means of helping curb the driving while under the influence problem, but must be properly conducted in order to ensure that innocent motorists are not accused of and arrested for driving under the influence.

Continue reading " DUI Checkpoints to Be Held Labor Day Weekend " »

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Posted In: Alcohol Charges , Breath Tests , Criminal Charges , Drunk Driving/ DUI , Law & Information

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