George Brauchler

John Hickenlooper gives Nathan Dunlap reprieve from death but doesn't grant clemency

Moments ago, Governor John Hickenlooper announced his decision regarding the scheduled execution of Nathan Dunlap, who was convicted in 1996 of killing four people and seriously wounding a fifth during an assault three years earlier at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. Rather than granting clemency, as ... More >>

James Holmes case files: 37,000 pages, 436 discs, jail videos and more

In most cases, an order for prosecutors to make sure the defense team has access to all of their documents is commonplace. But there's no such thing as business as usual when it comes to the Aurora theater shooting. In a newly released document on view below, 18th Judicial District DA George Brauch ... More >>

Should the media forgo using killers' names and photos?

See also: For Aurora theater shooting victim Carli Richards, the worst isn't over yet

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's court filing about guilty-plea offer a publicity ploy, prosecution says

Update by Melanie Asmar: Was James Holmes's court filing stating that he was willing to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty a publicity stunt? That's the allegation being made by prosecutors in a response to Holmes's filing (on view below). The filing, they wrote, "appears to be an attempt to ... More >>

Death penalty battle heats up at the State Capitol

In more than eight hours of emotional testimony that stretched well into the evening, activists and faith groups seeking to abolish the death penalty in Colorado squared off against prosecutors and other backers of the ultimate punishment yesterday -- with family members of homicide victims speaking ... More >>

Gwen Devilbiss not charged in police shootout with pal Clifford Galley, $5 million in bonds

Update: As we've reported, Gwen Devilbiss was wounded during a police shootout involving two men, including pal Clifford Galley; see our previous coverage below. Now, charges have been put forward in the case, but none have her name on them. She's listed as a person of interest in the wild case, wh ... 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 >>

Greg Smith, convicted teen murderer, took pics of great grandparents after killing them

In March 2011, the town of Hugo, in Lincoln County, was shaken by the murders of Charles and Laura Clagett, an elderly couple who'd lived in the area for years. Soon, their great grandson -- later ID'd as Greg Smith, a few weeks shy of seventeen -- was arrested and charged as an adult. He's now been ... More >>

James Holmes hearing: "Rot in hell, Holmes" outburst prompts judge to reconvene hearing

This morning, Judge William Sylvester granted a defense motion to continue the arraignment of alleged Aurora theater shooter James Holmes until the week of March 12. But just after the brief hearing was adjourned, a man later identified as Steve Hernandez, father of victim Rebecca Wingo, who died in ... More >>

Bob Autobee "drops out" of death penalty battle for son's killer, Edward Montour

Frustrated by a decade of legal delays and setbacks, the father of slain state corrections officer Eric Autobee says that he now opposes further efforts to obtain the death penalty for inmate Edward Montour Jr. for the 2002 murder. In a recent interview, Bob Autobee also blasted the leadership of th ... More >>

George Brauchler wins hotly contested DA race to succeed Carol Chambers

The race for top prosecutor in Denver's southeast suburbs, which attracted national attention because of the pending trial of Aurora theater shootings suspect James Holmes -- who may face the death penalty in the case -- has been won by Republican George Brauchler. An ex-military prosecutor, Brauchl ... More >>

Edward Montour: The other death-penalty decision facing the new DA

This week's feature, "Lethal Election," explores how the race for district attorney in the 18th Judicial District has drawn a national spotlight because the winner will have to decide whether to pursue the death penalty in prosecuting James Holmes, the suspect in the Aurora theater shootings. It's a ... More >>

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

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

James Holmes case exploited on Facebook by district attorney candidate?

This week's cover story, "Lethal Election," reports on one of the most keenly fought local contests in Colorado this fall, the race for district attorney in the state's largest judicial district. Since Carol Chambers is term-limited, the winner in the 18th District (which includes Arapahoe, Douglas, ... More >>

Eric Swanson: "Big bitch" charges dropped in Mayhem concert assault

Eric Swanson is still headed to prison for an attack on another concertgoer at the 2010 Mayhem Festival. But the length of his sentence won't be anything like the mountain of time -- up to 64 years -- he had been facing in the case. Acknowledging that his codefendant had received a relatively light ... More >>

Jeramie Gerhardt gets jail time, probation in Mayhem concert assault

Jeramie Gerhardt, one of two men charged in an assault on another concert-goer during the 2010 Mayhem Festival at the Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, was sentenced last week in Arapahoe County District Court to 75 days in jail and four years of probation for his role in the incident -- while Eric Swans ... More >>

Update: Undocumented immigrant activists call off hunger strike, sit-in

After a six-day sit in and hunger strike, young undocumented immigrants Javier Hernandez and Veronica Gomez left their brief home at the Obama For America headquarters at 5:20 p.m. today. As the National Immigrant Youth Alliance pushes plans to spread their call for an executive order from Obama to ... More >>

George Brauchler vs. Leslie Hansen: Attacks intensify in DA race

One of the few hotly contested primary races in Colorado elections this year is the brawl between Leslie Hansen and George Brauchler over who will be the Republican candidate for district attorney in the 18th Judicial District, vying to succeed Carol Chambers as top prosecutor in one of the state's ... More >>

"Big Bitch" policy divides DA candidates George Brauchler, Leslie Hansen

This week's feature, "Sucker Punch," traces how an assault at a heavy metal concert turned into a habitual criminal prosecution in Arapahoe County, with one of the defendants facing a mountain of time while the other got probation. In the three-way race for district attorney in the 18th Judicial Dis ... More >>

Dan Maes says he's staying in race despite bankruptcy revelation, alleged bribe to quit

Dan Maes.​Another week, another series of disasters for the Dan Maes campaign. First came photos of Maes collecting cash in a burlap bag, in apparent violation of campaign rules (but beyond the statute of limitations). Next? News that he'd filed for personal bankruptcy in 1989 -- the sort of i ... More >>

No Republican is safe -- not even Carol Chambers

The Duel for DA Heats Up