Criminal Trials

Rollin Oliver pleads guilty to second-degree murder in slaying of Officer Celena Hollis

Rollin Oliver pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder in the shooting death of Denver police officer Celena Hollis last June. The 22-year-old faces a sentence of sixteen to 26 years in prison according to the plea agreement, which is on view below. The original charge of first-degree murder/ext ... More >>

Edward Montour guilty plea ruling: David Lane on death penalty, James Holmes, "bloody 18th"

At a February hearing, Edward Montour sought to withdraw his guilty plea for a 2002 murder in an effort to avoid the death penalty he'd previously sought. The office of 18th Judicial District DA George Brauchler, who's also seeking death for accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes, argued agains ... More >>

James Holmes: Not guilty plea entered in Aurora theater shooting

Update below: James Holmes, the suspect in the July 20 shooting at an Aurora movie theater that killed twelve people and wounded seventy others, was widely expected to plead not guilty by reason of insanity at an arraignment hearing today. Instead, Judge William Sylvester entered a not-guilty plea ... More >>

Edward Montour case: Was inmate a "volunteer" for the death penalty?

In an unusual court hearing unfolding in Castle Rock, attorneys for Edward Montour Jr. are seeking to withdraw his guilty plea for the murder of a correctional officer in 2002, claiming that he was mentally ill at the time and seeking "court-assisted suicide" by firing his lawyers in a death-penalty ... More >>

Eric Swanson: Mayhem concert assault nets seven-year prison sentence

Eric Swanson's troubled past caught up with him last week in an Arapahoe County courtroom -- although not with quite the vengeance prosecutors had in mind. At one point facing habitual criminal charges and a potential 64-year-sentence for a case that began as a municipal summons for harassment, Swan ... More >>

Arapahoe County's district attorney race could prove a lethal election

See also: James Holmes case exploited on Facebook by district attorney candidate?

Linda Torrez is headed to prison for abusing Kristen Stillman

Linda Torrez​Kristen Stillman had been on the witness stand for two days -- talking about how her mother had dropped Kristen and her twin brother, Will, off at a house in northwest Denver when they were eight, and how the head of that household had abused them emotionally, physically, sexually ... More >>

The Big Bitch

The secret behind long sentences handed out to repeat offenders in the 18th Judicial District

Aaron Perry, recycOil CEO, convicted for trespassing, company files libel suit

Aaron Perry, CEO and CFO of recycOil, a Boulder waste oil recycling firm also known as Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises (RMSE), has been found guilty of trespassing on a competitor's property, but not guilty of harassment and a misdemeanor trespassing charge. After a two-day trial, a Boulder ... More >>

Sexual abuse lies keep man in prison; courts refuse to hold new trial

DA Carol Chambers under fire for giving witness a car in death-penalty case

Sir Mario Owens​Attorneys for Sir Mario Owens, sentenced to death for the 2005 murders of Vivian Wolfe and Javad Marshall-Fields, claim that Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers and her prosecutors made several unusual deals with witnesses in the secrecy-shrouded case -- includ ... More >>

Comment of the day: "Do you read? Do you comprehend?"

​Whatever your opinions about him -- and don't lie; you have some opinions about him -- there's no doubt that Barry Bonds is one of the most polarizing figures in modern sports, almost universally either revered or reviled. The thing that polarizes people about him is his use of steroids, but ... More >>

Shun Birch found guilty of murdering a witness; co-defendant Willie Clark's trial date not yet set

Shun Birch.​ A second man, 29-year-old Shun Birch, has been convicted of murdering a witness named Kalonniann Clark in 2006. He was one of three men charged with Clark's killing -- and perhaps the least known. Reputed gang leader Brian Hicks was found guilty at a trial last month. Willie Clark ... More >>

Ray Wagner: Inmate gets a year in the hole for refusing to lie in death-penalty case?

Ray Wagner​Last month's "not guilty" verdict in the murder trial of inmate Alejandro Perez put an end to six years of costly missteps and setbacks for Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers and her team of prosecutors, who'd set out to get the death penalty in a murky prison homi ... More >>

Reader: Alejandro Perez attorney responds to prosecutor's spin in failed death penalty case

Perez.​Alan Prendergast's post about the acquittal of Alejandro Perez in the killing of a fellow inmate included comments from prosecutor Jason Siers, whose boss Carol Chambers, is known for the zeal with which she seeks the death penalty. Defense attorney Jim Castle wasn't pleased with Siers' ... More >>

Frances Woodke & Shakiel Madden-Vaughn: Latest on hooker with AIDS, teen sex assaulter

Big pics below.​The latest high-profile cases to pass through the Denver District Attorney's Office are quite different in terms of their specifics but similar when it comes to shock value. One woman has been accused (again) of prostitution with knowledge she has AIDS, while a teenager was con ... More >>

Governor Bill Ritter pardons Reverend Leon Kelly and nineteen others

Leon Kelly.​Governor Bill Ritter today issued full pardons to twenty people around Colorado, including the Reverend Leon Kelly, who has been a well-known public figure and anti-gang crusader since 1986 when he founded the Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives. Kelly, whose late father was also a ... More >>

Road to nowhere: The men who are caught transporting illegal immigrants rarely pay the price

Christopher Hanson: Greeley gang member guilty of kidnapping, sex assault, hiring hit man

Larger photo below.​In June, we told you about Christopher Hanson, a Greeley gang member suspected of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman -- and then trying to hire someone to kill her. Last night, a Weld County jury found him guilty on six counts for crimes dating back to December of ... More >>

Boulder Fourmile Canyon fire update: DA Stan Garnett decides against criminal charges

​The Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder was extraordinarily destructive -- yet the volunteer firefighter whose fire pit likely launched the initial spark will not be charged with a crime. That's the decision of Boulder DA Stan Garnett, who feels he couldn't prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt ... More >>

James Broderick, detective in Tim Masters case, indicted for perjury

Tim Masters on Channel 4.​On June 8, when the City of Fort Collins announced that it would pay $5.9 million to Tim Masters, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, his attorney, David Lane, attorney, said Detective James Broderick still needed to be held accountable. Perhaps the eight counts ... More >>

Darrent Williams trial: Mario Anderson, Kataina Jackson-Keeling skip court, warrants issued

A warranted man.​Update, 4:32 p.m.: DA's Office spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough says today's scheduled hearing was continued to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday. Previous update and item below. Update, 12:13 p.m.: Mario Anderson and Kataina "Markie" Jackson-Keeling, who didn't show up on time for a sentenci ... More >>

Stan Garnett tries to capitalize on AG John Suthers's link to serial killer Scott Lee Kimball

Stan Garnett's playing hardball.​In an April post announcing his intention to challenge Colorado Attorney General John Suthers at the polls this November, Boulder district attorney Stan Garnett focused on issues like watching out for consumers, championing the environment and crafting a workab ... More >>

Willie Clark associates' guilty pleas: What were they pleading to?

Kataina "Markie" Jackson-Keeling.​Can any conclusions be drawn from the plea deals accepted by two associates of Willie Clark, who's been sentenced to more time than he could possibly serve for murdering Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams in 2007? Maybe -- but prosecutor Tim Twining says doin ... More >>

Racial-attack suspects: Hearings, sentencings and Allen Ford's not guilty plea

Media reports have connected Allen Ford to Andrew Gelston Graham's murder.​Last week, we told you about reports again linking suspects in a series of racial attacks to the thus-far-unsolved murder of Andrew Gelston Graham. Among those mentioned as being part of a group that allegedly trailed ... More >>

Alan Sudduth learned young that you never snitch -- but now, only the truth can set him free

Children behind bars: Why Colorado is trigger-happy when it comes to sentencing kids like Alan Sudduth as adults

Alan Sudduth was sixteen years old when prosecutors charged him as an adult.​Our cover story this week recounts the tale of Alan Sudduth, a juvenile who was sentenced to seventy years in prison in 1996 for the murder of a cab driver -- even though a recent hearing showed that the prosecution's ... More >>

Earl Ryan ends trial early by pleading guilty to killing two-year-old Noah Crookham

Earl Ryan apparently didn't like the direction his trial was heading.​As the Darrent Williams murder trial was winding down, another proceeding about an event with tragic consequences -- the trial of Earl Ryan, who allegedly shot and killed a two-year-old boy, Noah Crookham, in 2008 -- was get ... More >>

Cory Voorhis hearing, day one: Fired ICE agent battles to get his job back, boss Tony Rouco fumbles again

Cory Voorhis is finally getting a chance to be heard.​Cory Voorhis, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who was fired for leaking information from a restricted database to Republican Bob Beauprez's 2006 gubernatorial campaign, began making his case to get his job back before a federa ... More >>

Erik Osborn found guilty, faces up to 24 years in prison

Here's looking at you, Erik Osborn.​We've chronicled the story of disgraced One Lincoln Park developer Erik Osborn, who was accused of stealing from partners such as "Dealing Doug" Moreland and talk-show host Tom "Lou from Littleton" Manoogian, in a May feature article and a series of blogs ac ... More >>

Bad Execution

A judge removes DA Carol Chambers from a death-penalty case -- and blasts prosecution misconduct.

Profiles in Snitching

Arapahoe County DA Charges Death-Penalty Fees to the State

How does DA Carol Chambers beat the high cost of a death-penalty prosecution? By billing the prison system.

The Last Juvie to Face Life?

Killer Instinct

After Michael Tate lost all hope of a family life, he found the Devil.

The Punisher

Censured but defiant, Carol Chambers goes after habitual criminals -- and cops, judges and lawyers -- like no other district attorney. But at what cost?

Love, American Style

Illegal immigrant Jon Vaupel is not from Mexico, but he's a borderline case.

Shades of Guilt

In the murder trial of Krystal Voss, doubt was everywhere and nothing was reasonable.

Cowboy Justice

They ran the toughest cellblock in the most dangerous prison in the state. It was the perfect place to beat inmates.

Trial and Tribulations

Naim Amini fled Afghanistan to build a new life, a life now lost in the translation.

Dead Reckoning

Donta Page's sentence revives Colorado's death-penalty debate -- but brings no closure. The Conclusion of "Penalty Zone."

Shades of Black

Defense attorneys fight to save their clients by comparing them to current residents of death row.

Judge and Jury

With several controversial cases coming up, Colorado's death-penalty decision moves to a three-judge panel.

Murderers' Row

Until two years ago, Colorado juries weighed whether men deserved to die. Now judges decide their fate.

Call Me Crazy

When the accused reject a not-guilty plea, Colorado's insanity law breaks down.

Colorado's Insanity Cases

A look at those affected by Colorado’s insanity law.

Sight Unseen

Carole Abbott was an expert witness in child sex-abuse cases. What she witnessed at home was a different matter.

Trials Can Be Murder

Judgment Day

As judges ponder the fates of Brandy DuVall's murderers, they must measure different shades of black.

The Final Judgment

Two years ago this week, Brandy DuVall was killed by members of the Deuce-Seven gang. For the past month, the courts have been deciding whether her murderers live or die.