Michael Tesman: No kidnapping charge in case of text-message-aided bust

A week ago today, Michael Tesman was arrested in what a Douglas County Sheriff's Office release described as a second-degree kidnapping. Authorities reportedly coordinated the bust with help from Tesman's alleged victim -- his ex-wife, whose text messages about her location were relayed through her son to her mother, and...

By Michael Roberts

July 30, 2010

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A week ago today, Michael Tesman was arrested in what a Douglas County Sheriff's Office release described as a second-degree kidnapping. Authorities reportedly coordinated the bust with help from Tesman's alleged victim -- his ex-wife, whose text messages about her location were relayed through her son to her mother, and then to DCSO reps. However, the charges put forward by the district attorney's office handling the case now include no mention of kidnapping whatsoever.

The aforementioned release stated:

Mr. Tesman is currently held in the Douglas County Detentions Facility on a NO BOND hold until he appears before a judge on Monday July 26, 2010. He is charged with: 2nd degree kidnapping, 2nd degree assault, resisting arrest, false imprisonment, domestic violence, violation of a restraining order, and parole violation.

Not so fast. Casimir Spencer, spokeswoman for the 18th Judicial District DA's office, describes the current charges against Tesman as second-degree assault on a peace officer, a Class 4 felony; a protection order violation, a Class 1 misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, a Class 2 misdemeanor.

In other words, two of the three charges that remain against Tesman, including the most serious of the trio, revolve around his arrest at Castle Rock Bar and Grill; Tesman's ex-wife had told a bartender there that she was being kidnapped.

Spencer declines to say why the DA's office isn't pushing forward on the previously announced charges involving kidnapping, false imprisonment and parole violation. But she does confirm that the investigation is continuing.

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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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