Child-care worker denies neglect charge
A child-care worker faces a misdemeanor child-neglect charge in connection with a 17-month-old girl locked inside a day-care center.
Ghada Mohamed Elmansouri, 33, of Denver could face up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $750.
Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched Wednesday evening to the Jack & Jill Learning Center, 2035 S. Dayton St. They were met by the girl’s father, who said that he arrived about 6:25 p.m. to pick up his daughter and found the building closed with no one around.
Deputies looked in the window and saw the girl inside asleep in a crib.
She was returned safe and unharmed to her parents.
Investigators allege that Elmansouri, an employee of the center, did not do a thorough check of the area before closing for the day.
Elmansouri told CBS4 television that she is not guilty. She said that the child was not her responsibility and that other workers left the center after she did.
Former Redskins star pleads in cocaine case
Timmy Smith, a former NFL star, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Denver on Thursday to distribution of cocaine, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Dave Gaouette.
Smith was arrested in October and accused of working with his brother, Christopher Smith, to sell 758 grams of cocaine to an informant, according to an arrested affidavit.
Smith, who helped the Washington Redskins defeat the Denver Broncos in the 1988 Super Bowl, was working at a local juvenile-detention center at the time of his arrest.
Sentencing was set for early May, Gaouette said.
City begins weighing plans to form county
Councilman Steve Hogan, who is spearheading an effort to break Aurora off from Arapahoe and Adams counties, on Thursday presented a plan to create a panel by September that would examine ways Aurora should form its own county.
The panel of 33 community members would explore other issues facing the city and report to the City Council with recommendations, Hogan said.
A committee is expected to review a formal draft of the panel proposal March 29.
Hogan introduced an ordinance to make Aurora a city and county that, if approved by the council, would be sent to the city’s voters in November.
If they favor the proposal, the legislature would have to allow a statewide ballot question no later than the 2012 general election.
Woman found guilty of killing husband
Darlene Spears, 31, of Lakewood was found guilty late Wednesday in the 2003 murder of her husband, Alvin Spears.
After two weeks of trial, a Jefferson County District Court jury deliberated two days before reaching the verdict that she was guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
After the slaying, in which Alvin Spears was stabbed and beaten to death, Darlene Spears contacted three insurance companies about collecting on her husband’s policies.
She will be sentenced May 5. First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence.
Immigration worker indicted in fee thefts
An employee of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has been indicted on embezzlement charges by a federal grand jury, U.S. Attorney Bill Leone and CIS Denver District director Mario Ortiz announced in a joint statement.
Catherine Ileen Spear of Federal Heights is accused of stealing checks and money orders received at the federal agency from applicants for permanent residency, citizenship, employment authorization and even petitions to adopt children from overseas.
People whose payments were diverted have had their applications processed as if the fees had been filed, the statement said.
Spear faces a possible sentence of 10 years, plus a fine of up to $250,000.
Holtzman seeks GOP help on calls
Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman’s campaign on Thursday asked GOP members to help track down people who possibly received fundraising phone calls in which the caller said U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez was ahead in the polls.
The request comes in response to a call made by the company hired by the state Republican Party to do fundraising Tuesday. The caller told a Pueblo West resident that Beauprez was winning in the polls.
Holtzman’s campaign has alleged that the incident showed that the state party establishment opposes his candidacy.
CU president names chancellor finalist
The president of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is the finalist for chancellor of the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center.
Dr. M. Roy Wilson was chosen by CU president Hank Brown from several candidates selected by a search committee.
