Criminal Law

Fetal homicide bill defeated by Democrats not a Trojan horse for personhood, sponsor says

Update: As we reported yesterday, a fetal homicide bill sponsored by Republican Representative Janak Joshi was defeated along party lines, with Democrats saying they plan to bring forward a measure that accomplishes similar goals without being a "Trojan horse" for personhood; see our original covera ... More >>

Colorado's juvenile courts suffer from "benign neglect," new study claims

A detailed study of Colorado's juvenile courts by a national coalition of attorneys who specialize in juvenile defense work describes the state system as plagued by turnover, case overload, confusion and judicial shortcuts that sometimes deprive the juveniles in its care of their rights -- and is mo ... More >>

Marijuana: Amendment 64 support letter signed by more than 100 college professors

As Barack Obama was visiting CSU, where he was greeted by 13,000 supporters and an attack sign with a typo, the folks behind Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, released a letter with an academic flavor. It features the signatures of 100-plus professors who back the measure, inclu ... More >>

Marijuana: Brandon Coats filing argues using MMJ is a lawful activity

In April, we told you about the story of Brandon Coats, a paralyzed medical marijuana patient fired from DISH Network for failing a positive drug test. Coats's complaint lost in the first round, but it's under appeal -- and with the filing of a new brief, the case is entering a new phase. See the b ... More >>

Jesus Cornelio guilty plea in death of toddler touted as triumph of direct file

The case against Jesus Cornelio, seventeen, who allegedly caused his toddler cousin's death by shoving him while Facebooking, sparked controversy after he was charged as an adult using a method the Colorado legislature was trying to reform. That bill is now law, but Weld County DA Ken Buck is credit ... More >>

Hector Paez: Denver cop's attorney on alleged sex-assault victim's lawsuit, media blitz

Update below: In October 2010, Denver Policeman Hector Paez was booked on a sexual assault charge for allegedly coercing a woman to perform oral sex on him to avoid going to jail. Last September, a mistrial was declared in his case, which is slated for this winter. But his accuser isn't waiting unti ... More >>

Abused kids may mingle with delinquents at a privately run facility

Juveniles prosecuted as adults: Colorado's hardline approach not working, report says

Nearly twenty years after Denver's much-hyped "Summer of Violence" triggered a harsher approach to juvenile offenders statewide, lawmakers are wrestling with two reform bills -- and a new report contends that Colorado's system for moving juvenile cases into adult court isn't working and doesn't prov ... More >>

Balanced Justice: New study seeks to make dollars and sense out of criminal justice policy

​Criminals aren't terribly skilled at performing a cost-benefit analysis before embarking on their disastrous ventures, which they usually end up describing as "bad choices, Your Honor." That's all the more reason judges, lawmakers, prison officials and others in the justice system ought to th ... More >>

Boys play with lighters and face arson charges, parents feel burned

Live blog: Charlie Brown presents his pot proposal

Charlie Brown is the man with the plan.​This morning, Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown presented his proposed ordinance to regulate the city's medical marijuana dispensaries to the council's Safety Committee. We live blogged the hearing; you'll find Brown's proposal at the bottom of this p ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: JonBenét Ramsey and 1990s nostalgia

As the awful economic news keeps pouring out (Agile Group, anyone?), you can understand the urge to look back at the good old days. Even the bad crimes of the good old days. And so yesterday, the new Boulder District Attorney and the old Boulder Police Chief held a joint press conference to announ ... More >>

Westword's Alan Prendergast takes you behind the scenes of his Carol Chambers reporting

Alan Prendergast is at the center of a recent "How I Got That Story" feature. The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies is an organization devoted to publications like this one -- and to good writing in general. To that end, AAN has created a regular feature dubbed "How I Got That Story," in ... More >>

Update: Denver Police make arrest in Gabriel Pico death

DA Lacy Clears Ramseys; Skeptics Remain Skeptical

The Denver Post's Miles Moffeit Wins Two Awards -- One Unofficially

Out of Bounds

Acquitted of sexual assault, a Breckenridge bellman has turned the tables by suing his accuser in civil court.

A Killer Special

Make Yourself at Home

Parade of Groans

A luxury homebuilder's dispute with customers results in a felony charge.

Juvenile

Reality Check (Atlantic)

Press Release

From the Office of the District Attorney, July 1, 2004

Love Crazy

The nurse, the cop, the yegg: Fate brought them together and claimed four lives. Then the newspapers stepped in, and things really got insane.

A Chemistry Experiment

The Denver Drug Court tests a formula for reclaiming addicts.

Waiting for Joe

Colorado's lieutenant governor is a hard man to pin down -- no ifs, ands or butts.

Friend or Foe

In an era of hooking up, when does a date become rape?

A Real Page-Turner

It's a mystery why Jerry Stevens can't get credit for his mystery-writing classes.

Wirtz Case Scenario

A jailhouse lawyer takes on The Man in Grand County.

Office Politics

The race is on for Boulder County District Attorney.

Unlawful Intentions

High crimes and pissed demeanors in Arapahoe County.

Going to the Dogs

One lawyers crusade to reign in Denver's leash laws.

Boy Wonder

Raoul Wuthrich caught the Jeffco Juvenile Justice System with its pants down.

Zero to Life

Lisl Auman had met Matthaeus Jaehnig only that morning. By day's end, he and a cop were dead--and her life was over.

Jailbait

Denver's entire law-enforcement community seems to think we need a bigger house. But a few holdouts say that first we need wiser law enforcement

Caught on Tape

One day, anti-stalker Michael Newell became a TV hero. But not everyone was happy about it.

The Love Bug

A Mesa County official secretly eavesdrops on her employee's badmouthing.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys

Whatcha gonna do? Let a private company try to handle your juvenile delinquents?

A Very Brady Plea

A confessed killer snaps up a plea bargain in the wastewater murder case.

Little Boy Lust

How a Denver teacher of the year victimized a Vietnamese immigrant family.

Unsafe at Any Speed

Sealed Fates

A Trust Betrayed

Ashley Gray didn't take candy from strangers. She did from her "Uncle Jon."

The Hits Keep on Coming

Already in jail awaiting trial in a murder-for-hire case, James Darnell allegedly can't stop plotting.

The Sins of Youth

Colorado gambles millions on a second last chance for violent teens

Feelings. Nothing More Than Feelings.

A karaoke singer hits the high notes--and pays the price.

ETHIC CLEANSING

BRUSH WITH THE LAW

YOUNG DELINQUENTS CHURN OUT ARTWORK TO EARN MONEY FOR RESTITUTION.

THE CLIENTS

ANOTHER CABLE FABLE

CABLE THEFT IS A SERIOUS CRIME--BUT NOT IN TCI'S BOOK.

PHONE "PALS"

SCAMSTERS RUN SOME NEW TRICKERY PAST THE ELDERLY.