Stan Garnett

David Isberg: Inmate seeks reprieve from his "death sentence," too

Governor John Hickenlooper confounded death-penalty advocates and opponents alike last month when he granted a reprieve but not clemency to Nathan Dunlap, who'd been scheduled for execution in August for the 1993 murders of four people. Now David Isberg is hoping the governor will intervene to prev ... More >>

Thomas Cunningham hit with 18 felony counts, possible years in jail, over "pot brownie assault"

Update: On Monday, we reported about the arrests of CU students Thomas Cunningham and Mary Essa for "pot brownie assault" -- secretly feeding a professor and classmates dosed sweets, prompting three hospitalizations; see previous coverage below. Cunningham was originally busted on suspicion of four ... 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: Amendment 64 critic on why Boulder DA should take action against backers

Update: A day before passage of Amendment 64, we noted that activist Kathleen Chippi had filed a complaint against the measure with the Boulder District Attorney's Office, which opened an investigation to determine if actions were justified; see our original coverage below. Now, Chippi is sharing a ... More >>

Zoey Ripple, recent CU grad shot after entering wrong house: Guilty plea, deferred sentence

Zoey Ripple, the recent CU graduate who was shot after wandering into the wrong home, may have been under the influence of a date-rape drug in addition to alcohol, her attorney maintains. Nonetheless, Ripple -- recently featured in a 20/20 report about drunk walking -- has pleaded guilty to first-de ... More >>

Zoey Ripple: Felony trespassing beef for drunk CU grad shot by homeowner

Zoey Ripple, the recent CU graduate who was shot after drunkenly wandering into the wrong home, has now been formally charged with first-degree trespassing. That's a felony, and it carries a potential penalty of up to five years in stir. But signals from Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett sugge ... More >>

Zoey Ripple, drunk CU grad, thought she was with pals until Timothy Justice shot her

Update: Many questions remain in the matter of Zoey Ripple, the CU grad who was shot after entering the wrong house -- an incident detailed in our original coverage below. But we've got more answers thanks to Boulder Police's release of an arrest affidavit, seen here, which quotes her as saying that ... More >>

Marijuana: Rob Corry wants proof of support for U.S. Attorney MMC seizure threats

Earlier this month, attorney Rob Corry shared correspondence between him and U.S. Attorney John Walsh over seizure-threat letters sent to 23 dispensaries near schools. His latest gambit: A Freedom of Information Act request intended, in part, to determine if the actions are as popular as Walsh has i ... More >>

Medical marijuana: U.S. Attorney may target grows with future closure letters

Update: On Friday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that it had sent another 25 seizure-threat letters to medical marijuana dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools; see details in our original coverage below. However, some language in the letters differed from the first mailing in January. Now ... More >>

Marijuana: John Walsh responds to Boulder DA's letter about feds' MMC policy

Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett recently took issue with U.S. Attorney John Walsh's closure-threat letters to medical marijuana centers within 1,000 feet of schools. After Garnett sent a letter of his own on the topic, a U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman told us Walsh would respond directly to ... More >>

Marijuana: DA Stan Garnett defends telling feds to back off Boulder MMCs

Update:This week, Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney John Walsh asking him not to send seizure threats to any Boulder medical marijuana dispensaries conforming to state and local land use regulations. When asked about the note, Walsh's spokesman said his boss woul ... More >>

How victim rights became a juggernaut shaping spending, laws and the future of punishment

John Suthers, attorney general, channels South Park to stop underage drinking (VIDEO)

​Imagine my surprise the other night when, in the midst of enjoying an episode of Friday Night Lights on Hulu (Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!), a commercial popped on featuring Colorado Attorney General John Suthers. And not just any John Suthers -- an animated John Suthers straight out ... More >>

John Elway uses Twitter to ask Broncos fans who the team should draft

John Elway.​We're out of Denver blog posts. JK! Mile High Report's Troy Hufford applauds John Elway for tweeting with fans about the draft, a new CBA and more. Education News Colorado's Alan Gottlieb previews the DPS elections and introduces readers to new hire Charlie Brennan, formerly with ... More >>

Columbine effect 12 years later: Are schools and cops going too far in prosecuting juveniles?

Evie Hudak​In the dozen years since the Columbine shootings, school officials have become hypervigilant about potential troublemakers in their midst -- so hyper, in fact, that state lawmakers are now seeking a formal review of school disciplinary procedures to determine if principals are too q ... More >>

John Suthers not only one to blame for botching serial killer Scott Kimball's case, author says

Scott Kimball.​Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett's campaign against John Suthers for Colorado Attorney General is running ads arguing that Suthers let serial killer Scott Kimball remain free as an informant, while Garnett put him behind bars. Texas-based author Ed Coet, who's written a bo ... More >>

Ken Buck spokesman: Rape case stories smears that may scare women away from reporting

Ken Buck.​On Monday, we told you about Ken Buck's decision not to prosecute an alleged 2005 rape, which liberal organizations view as evidence that he lacks compassion for women. Buck spokesman Owen Loftus sees something different -- an unfair assault on Buck's character that exploits the wom ... More >>

Marijuana legalization: Mason Tvert blasts John Hickenlooper and politicos who dodge issue

Mason Tvert.​At this hour, SAFER's Mason Tvert is slated to hold a press conference at the Denver City and County Building to highlight his pro-marijuana outfit's first-ever voter guides -- and to bash Mayor John Hickenlooper for what Tvert sees as his backwards stance on weed. But at least Hi ... More >>

Stan Garnett-John Suthers race (and others) get brutal thanks to serial killers and smears

Scott Kimball​"Who would you rather have protecting you? The man who unleashed a serial killer on Colorado, or Stan Garnett -- the man who put the killer away?" That tag line from a new attack ad in the Colorado Attorney General's race puts aside any doubt that we're entering the campaign's c ... More >>

Plant Medicine Expo: Medical marijuana event featuring Richard Belzer historic, advocate says

Full-sized photo below.​This weekend's Plant Medicine Expo, featuring a debate moderated by Law & Order Special Victims Unit star Richard Belzer, was a "historic event not only for the state of Colorado, but for the nation and the world," says Cannabis Therapy Institute's Laura Kriho, a member ... More >>

Joel Ledermann charged with 4th-degree arson in Reservoir Road fire near Loveland

​On Wednesday, Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett decided not to file charges against the volunteer firefighter thought to have accidentally started the Fourmile Canyon fire. But no such luck for Joel Ledermann, who's been formally accused of fourth-degree arson in relation to the smaller ... More >>

Stan Garnett urges John Suthers to help MMJ grower Chris Bartkowicz: That's likely!

Stan Garnett.​Tonight, several medical marijuana attorneys host a fundraiser for Boulder DA Stan Garnett, who's challenging Attorney General/MMJ-law hater John Suthers. Garnett's now publicly criticizing a ruling forbidding marijuana grower Chris Bartkowicz from using a medical defense in his ... More >>

Medical marijuana lawyers would love Stan Garnett to beat Attorney General John Suthers

Stan Garnett.​Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett once said he wanted to be the state's most progressive DA when it comes to medical marijuana. In contrast, Attorney General John Suthers thinks MMJ dispensaries suck. It's no surprise, then, that lawyers/medical marijuana advocates Rob Corry ... More >>

Loveland's Reservoir Road alleged firestarters' case goes to DA, Fourmile investigation goes on

​This just in: At noon today, all areas impacted by the Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder will be repopened to residents (get more info below). Meanwhile, crews continue to fight the Reservoir Road fire outside Loveland -- and the case against the two people suspected of starting it has been s ... More >>

Boulder Fourmile Canyon firestarter: DA Stan Garnett thinks criminal charges could be tricky

Stan Garnett.​Although the Fourmile Canyon fire near Boulder is 100 percent contained, the identity of the local resident suspected of accidentally starting it hasn't been made public yet. However, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office is sending signals that criminal charges are no cinch, and ... More >>

Tim Tebow's one tough son (of God?), according to Madden 11

Virtual Tim.​A trio of worthy posts from Denver blogs. Tim Tebow gets a toughness ranking of 98 on Madden 11, notes jonmark93 on a Mile High Report fan post. Grrrrr! Colorado Pols shares Stan Garnett's attack on John Suthers over the Defense of Marriage Act. Defend that. 5280's A.J. Vicens ... More >>

Ken Gordon: Unleash the power of the Internets!

"Tweet me right."​Former state lawmaker Ken Gordon is a passionate advocate of online communication, particularly emerging social media, as a powerful tool in the service of democracy. In bursts of electronic energy, known as "e-mails," he's reached out across cyberspace to encourage citizens ... More >>

Drug ring in Boulder County: 17 indicted for meth, cocaine, to Stan Garnett's delight

Stan Garnett.​Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett, who's challenging John Suthers for the job of Colorado Attorney General, was able to burnish his law-and-order credentials today via the actions of a grand jury, which just handed down a 127-count, seventeen-person indictment aimed at a Lon ... 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 >>

Stan Garnett in Colorado politics tarot deck: Kenny Be's Hip Tip

#20 of the 22 Major Arcana: Stan Garnett, the Sun... Kenny Be​

Cannabis Therapy Institute to Stan Garnett: Drop cases against 4/20 weed smokers

Will Stan Garnett receive the pro-marijuana vote?​Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett recently announced his intention to challenge John Suthers for the Colorado Attorney General gig -- and his comparatively progressive views on marijuana presumably meant he could count on support from pro- ... More >>

Stan Garnett, Boulder DA, on why he's challenging John Suthers in Colorado Attorney General race

Stan Garnett sans hat -- because he's thrown it into the ring.​Last week, Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett confirmed that he was considering a run for Colorado Attorney General against controversial incumbent John Suthers -- but first, he wanted to test the water. Apparently, the water' ... More >>

Nudity ordinance a war on fun in Boulder, says ACLU

Naked Pumpkin Run participants in 2005 showed a lot of cheek.​Last night, the Boulder City Council passed a controversial nudity ordinance banning anyone over the age of ten from exposing their genitals in public -- a response to concerns about annual events such as the World Naked Bike Ride a ... More >>

Stan Garnett, Boulder DA, considering race against John Suthers for Colorado Attorney General

Stan Garnett: Will he or won't he?​Colorado Attorney General John Suthers' announcement that he would be joining in a lawsuit with a dozen other AGs across the country to challenge the constitutionality of the new health-care bill was cheered by some political observers and jeered by others -- ... More >>

Boulder DA Stan Garnett: Additional medical marijuana legislation may be unconstitutional

Stan Garnett has doubts about additional medical marijuana legislation.​Boulder district attorney Stan Garnett is the rare public official who's willing to speak plainly about marijuana, medical or otherwise. Note that way back in September, he wrote that "legalizing marijuana entirely would ... More >>

Should exposing the areola of a nipple be illegal in Boulder? The ACLU says "no"

Last month, Boulder district attorney Stan Garnett (who weighs in today about medical marijuana) argued that the Boulder City Council should pass what he called "a simple public-nudity ordinance" regarding participants in events like the World Naked Bike Ride and the Naked Pumpkin Run. That way, sco ... More >>

Naked Pumpkin Run participants: Boulder DA Stan Garnett doesn't think you're sex offenders

Prior to last year's Naked Pumpkin Run, Boulder district attorney Stan Garnett told Westword that the charges available to use in relation to the event didn't fit the crime -- or whatever the hell you'd call stripping off your clothes and dashing around with a pumpkin shell on your head. In his word ... More >>

Defending Nicholas Polashek, a medical-marijuana patient being prosecuted in Boulder

Attorney Jeffrey Gard is defending Nicholas Polashek for free.​A September 23 blog quoted Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett as saying he's "committed to having the most progressive approach to medical marijuana of any DA's office in the state." Among those who commented on the item was on ... More >>

Stan Garnett: Colorado has mishandled the medical-marijuana issue

Stan Garnett and Jann Scott: e-mail buddies?​Beware of sending an e-mail to Jann Scott. The longtime public-access gadfly (profiled by yours truly back in 1992, prior to the launch of our online archives) tends to forward his correspondence to anyone and everyone -- and that's precisely what h ... More >>

Are charges finally about to be filed against Richard Heene in Balloon Boy case?

David Lane represents Richard Heene. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.​Update below: Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett was appointed as special prosecutor after lawyer David Lane accused Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden of breaking the law by talking about a child-abuse inv ... More >>

Next big medical-marijuana showdown: Boulder City Council considers moratorium on dispensaries tonight

Photo by Robert FisherNew cases could be closed in Boulder depending on a city council meeting tonight.​Earlier today, Judge Larry Naves gave medical-marijuana boosters a big win by voiding the Board of Health's decision to change a definition of caregiver put into place in July. But advocates ... More >>

Boulder DA Stan Garnett goes from the Naked Pumpkin Run to Balloon Boy

With the Naked Pumpkin Run over, Stan Garnett has a new focus: Balloon Boy.​Just because this year's Naked Pumpkin Run has come and gone without mass arrests doesn't mean Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett is done with high-profile cases for a day or two. He's been appointed a special pros ... More >>

Boulder DA Stan Garnett and the ACLU's Mark Silverstein weigh in post-Mall Crawl and Naked Pumpkin Run

Stan Garnett isn't having to spend a lot of time weighing the differences between indecent exposure and public indecency.​We still don't know all the particulars about the Halloween festivities on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall on Saturday; at this writing, the Boulder Police Department is still ... More >>

Is taking part in the Naked Pumpkin Run a crime?

During an interview for last week's blog about criticism of the Boulder Police Department's efforts to squelch a revival of the Boulder Mall Crawl this Halloween, Judd Golden, chapter chair of the Boulder County American Civil Liberties Union, mentioned another event expected to bust out that night: ... More >>

Felony weed charges dropped against "pregnant caregiver" Sherri Versfelt

Sherri Versfelt shows off her baby bump.​Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett says he's "committed to having the most progressive approach to medical marijuana of any DA's office in the state." And yesterday, he took another step toward establishing that reputation by dismissing charges agai ... More >>

Legalizing marijuana -- medical or otherwise -- has become the toke of the town

The Cannabis Therapy Institute's open letter to Colorado officials

The logo of the Cannabis Therapy Institute.​The Cannabis Therapy Institute, an organization "dedicated to helping patients achieve a better quality of life with cannabis," may have an Iowa phone number, but it's been very involved of late with pot issues in Colorado. Its "About Us" page notes, ... More >>

Reading, Writing and Recall

A group of Boulder parents fail to unseat their school-board members.

Honor Rolled

Parents in Boulder say their school-board members lied to them.

Motion to Dismiss

Should Judge Lynne Hufnagel be benched? Ask the bankrupt cabbies, bullied witnesses and banished lawyers who've tasted her bitter brand of justice.