Chris Bartkowicz faces jail for growing pot as Aris Minter, two others charged with stealing it

Oh, the irony. Shortly after we learned Highlands Ranch's Chris Bartkowicz will plead guilty today to federal marijuana counts in exchange for a five-year stipulated sentence, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced that it's charged three men -- Aris Minter, Donjure Walker and Raymond Ramirez -- with stealing pot in...

By Michael Roberts

October 21, 2010

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Oh, the irony. Shortly after we learned Highlands Ranch's Chris Bartkowicz will plead guilty today to federal marijuana counts in exchange for a five-year stipulated sentence, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced that it's charged three men -- Aris Minter, Donjure Walker and Raymond Ramirez -- with stealing pot in two separate incidents. Details and photos below:

In the first case, Minter and Walker are accused of robbery and attempted kidnapping in an attempted theft at a local dispensary. In the second, Ramirez is accused of robbery and trespassing for swiping a plant from a legal MMJ home grow. During the getaway, a car said to have been driven by a Ramirez accomplice reportedly hit the woman who lived at the home. The result: a broken ankle and more.

Below, see photos of Minter, Walker and Ramirez as well as the DA's office release:

Denver District Attorney's Office release:

CHARGES FILED IN SEPARATE MARIJUANA ROBBERIES

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has formally charged three men today in two separate, unrelated marijuana robbery incidents.

Aris Minter (DOB: 04-02-92) and Donjure Walker (DOB: 12-28-89) are each charged with aggravated robbery (F3) and attempted second-degree kidnapping (F4). The charges allege that on October 16, 2010, Minter and Walker entered a marijuana dispensary in the 2000 block of South Huron Street and took cash and dried marijuana from the victim at gunpoint. The defendants were arrested a short time later in Ruby Hill Park.

Minter and Walker remain in custody in the Denver Detention Center; bond is set at $50,000 each. They are scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2300 on October 22, 2010, to be formally advised of the charges.

In a separate, unrelated incident Raymond Ramirez (DOB: 08-05-67) is charged with robbery (F4) and second-degree trespassing (M3). The charges against Ramirez allege that on October 9, 2010, he unlawfully entered the backyard of a home where marijuana for medical use was being grown and stole one of the marijuana plants. The charges further allege that as Ramirez was fleeing the property in a vehicle driven by an unknown accomplice, the driver struck a woman who lived in the home, breaking her ankle and causing significant abrasions.

Ramirez remains in custody in the Denver Detention Center; his bond is set at $75,000. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2300 on October 22, 2010, to be formally advised of the charges.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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