Mitch Morrissey

Rape prosecution story: Denver DA, 7News trade inaccuracy charges

Yesterday, we reported about 7News' story on the rate of sex-assault prosecutions under Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, whose on-camera ripping of reporter Keli Rabon was included online; see our original coverage below. Since then, the tensions between the DA's office and the station hav ... More >>

Videos: 7News shares Mitch Morrissey's criticism of station for rape story

Reporter Keli Rabon's 7News story about the rate at which Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey declines to prosecute sex assault cases would attract attention under any circumstances. But at least as interesting are several videos featuring Morrissey, including an uncut, nine-minutes-plus clip i ... More >>

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 >>

When it comes to threats against officials, does Denver have a double standard?

Monica Avila, mom, accused of bringing gun to Denver middle school, threatening students

Just days after a gunman broke into an elementary school in Connecticut and killed twenty children and six adults, Monica Avila, a 34-year-Denver mother, is facing charges for allegedly bringing a gun to a middle school and threatening students who may have bullied her daughter. She was arrested a ... More >>

Jeffrey Musick shooting: DA rules cop justified in killing man armed with sword

On November 10, Jeffrey Musick, a 38-year-old with a history of mental illness and a slew of arrests (see a gallery of his mug shots below), was shot to death by Auraria Campus Police Officer Robert Burnett after allegedly attacking him with a sword. Today, the Denver District Attorney's Office has ... More >>

Marijuana: Is Denver adding charges to keep minor pot cases alive after Amendment 64?

After the passage of Amendment 64, we reported that Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey had called for a review of all pending pot cases that would be legal under the measure, with a bias toward dropping those unaccompanied by additional charges. Now, however, an attorney says a client accused ... More >>

Marijuana: Amendment 64's Mason Tvert on Bill Maher's invite, advocate advice

During a recent appearance on his HBO discussion show, Bill Maher asked Mason Tvert, one of the primary proponents behind Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, to relocate in California and push through a similar measure there -- and Tvert lightheartedly said he would; see the video ... More >>

Marijuana: Denver DA Mitch Morrissey joins law enforcers denouncing Amendment 64

As we noted in a post yesterday about more than 300 doctors urging approval of Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, shortly after a state organization of pediatricians denounced it, those for and against the measure are engaging in the equivalent of endorsement wars. Today's salvo? ... More >>

Rape kits: Michael Bennet touts bill to enhance evidence processing

Rebecca Gershten and Becca Beall Oschner know the importance of rape kits. In 2005, both women were victimized by serial rapist Brent Brents. Their rape kits helped lead to his capture. "Thankfully, our rape kits were processed in record time, which provided the proof necessary to arrest him," Gers ... More >>

Michael Hancock's State of the City speech: Police reform and e-Denver

A year after taking office, Mayor Michael Hancock delivered his first State of the City address this morning, promoting a range of priorities, including restructuring the police department, increasing programs for children and a new online initiative he is calling "e-Denver." That's right, Denver is ... More >>

Angel Montoya conviction in death of child ends four-plus year ordeal

The conviction yesterday of Angel Montoya in the death of three-year-old Neveah Gallegos ends a long journey not only for the child's loved ones, but also for police, prosecutors and the public. After all, Neveah died in 2007 and Montoya and Miriam Gallegos were arrested shortly thereafter. But jus ... More >>

Drug sentencing reform bill sent to commission (and oblivion) for further study

Statehouse veterans know that the easiest way to squash a bill they don't like isn't to kill it outright but to send it out for serious "study" -- to some lonely subcommittee or outside agency, where it will languish and eventually die a slow, agonizing death from neglect. Senate Bill 163, which wou ... More >>

Alonzo Ashley: Decision not to charge anyone for homicide at Denver Zoo leads to protest, arrest

Alonzo Ashley.​In July, Alonzo Ashley died at the Denver Zoo after being tased by police. The coroner's office subsequently ruled the death a homicide, but the Denver District Attorney's Office isn't charging anyone with a crime in relation to it; see the decision statement below. This turn of ... More >>

Medical marijuana grow isn't child abuse any more than having a liquor cabinet, attorney says

Joseph Lightfoot.​Update: Joseph Lightfoot was originally charged with felony child abuse for a legal medical marijuana grow simply because he had three kids living in the home where he was cultivating. The count was later bumped down to a couple of misdemeanors, to which Lightfoot pleaded gui ... More >>

Reader: Sheriff's officers in Marvin Booker jail death should face manslaughter charges

Marvin Booker.​Manager of Safety Charley Garcia's decision to fire cops in the Michael DeHerrera beating and Denver Diner macing didn't earn officials a free pass from those upset that no criminal charges were filed in the July 2010 jail death of Marvin Booker. Here's one angry response.

Steven Lee Hill: DNA hit leads to charge for 2007 sex assault on 59-year-old woman

Big pic below.​DNA may not be forever, but it can survive long enough to prompt charges for years-old crimes -- like, for instance, the one that just gob-smacked Steven Lee Hill. He's now been accused of sexually assaulting a 59-year-old woman along an East Mississippi bike path back in 2007 - ... More >>

Denver DA Mitch Morrissey and the ACLU butt heads over "Katie's Law"

Katie Sepich.​A new law went into affect in Colorado today that will require anyone arrested for a felony to submit a DNA sample. "Katie's Law" is named after 22-year-old New Mexico State University graduate student, Katie Sepich, who was raped and murdered in 2003. Governor Bill Ritter signed ... More >>

John Hickenlooper promises Marvin Booker family private viewing of Denver jail death video

John Hickenlooper.​Mayor John Hickenlooper is out with a statement in the wake of Denver DA Mitch Morrissey's just-announced decision not to file charges in the Denver Jail death of Marvin Booker on July 9. He says the investigation is ongoing, and reveals that his office is working with Booke ... More >>

Eddie Bohn's Pig 'N Whistle burns down: Remembering a Denver classic

A sign of times gone by.​News that the old Pig 'N Whistle restaurant on West Colfax burned down this morning couldn't help leaving Eddie "Punch" Bohn with mixed emotions. After all, Punch's dad, Eddie Bohn, was the man who turned the site into a Denver landmark for the lion's share of the Twen ... More >>

In the hunt for Darrent Williams's killer, the cops went on the offensive early

Darrent Williams murder trial, day thirteen: Willie Clark found guilty

Prosecutors say Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams (left) was shot and killed by 26-year-old Willie Clark (right) on New Year's Day 2007.​ Westword is covering the trial of Willie Clark, accused of murdering Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams early on New Year's Day 2007. The m ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: Tancredo's not running for governor, but he's on the move

​Tom Tancredo will have his Kumbaya moment at 10 a.m. today, when he gathers with Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis and other top GOPs -- including former governor Bill Owens and former gubernatorial Josh Penry -- to unveil an agreed-upon set of Republican principles. And that ... More >>

Denver DA Mitch Morrissey wants to make DNA investigations family affairs

Mitch Morrissey hopes all you at-large criminals have siblings who've been busted.​Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey is psyched. For the past several years, he's been working with colleagues in the Denver Police Department's crime lab, among others, to prove the efficacy of a method abl ... More >>

Cory Voorhis on reported perjury by ICE agent

Cory Voorhis.​"Tony Rouco is really a small piece of the puzzle," former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Cory Voorhis says about an ICE supervisor who reportedly gave false testimony under oath. "It's most obvious that the wrongdoing is at some level higher." In some respects, ... More >>

Chantell Taylor: Colorado Ethics Watch really is nonpartisan!

Chantell Taylor.​While crowing earlier today about an Institute exposé focusing on uncompleted conflict-of-interest forms that embarrassed the Bill Ritter administration, the Independence Institute's Jon Caldara scoffed at the notion that Colorado Ethics Watch might take action against the De ... More >>

Why doesn't Colorado get the point of needle exchange programs?

Wake-Up Call: Naming names for U.S. attorney

Right before he headed into his lovefest/confirmation hearing for the Secretary of the Interior post, still-Senator Ken Salazar and new Senator Mark Udall sent President-elect Barack Obama the names of three candidates for U.S. attorney, since that post generally goes with the winning party, and Rep ... More >>

Here comes the new Mitch Morrissey headline -- a lot like the old Mitch Morrissey headline

In an "Extra!" side channel item from today's Rocky Mountain News, Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey (pictured), expresses her displeasure at an online headline affixed to a story announcing that her boss might receive a $32,000 boost in pay. "I don't want to ... 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 >>

Charges in the Darrent Williams murder: How strong is the case?

From the Blogosphere to Politics

Jason Bane helped start ColoradoPols.com, but now he's stepped away from the web and into public life.

Deconstructing the DNA of a Denver Post Pulitzer Finalist

Critics raise questions regarding an impressive Post series shortly after it's named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Documents Outline DA Mitch Morrissey’s Complaints Against Denver Post Pulitzer Candidate

Who's Sorry Now?

A look at the revolving door of term limits.

Book Them

Pen and stink in the Jeffco jail.

Off Limits

Life of the Party

Law and Order

Denver's DA candidates take a seat in the docket.

CSI: Denver

DPD's crime lab makes TV reality.

Do Tell

Notorious Denver informant Mark Tibbs has finked his way through a lot of cases. But can he talk his way out of this one?

Trial by Ire

The candidates in the Denver's DA's race refuse to come to order.