11 charged in 2003 series of thefts on I-25 corridor
Eleven members of an alleged half-million-dollar burglary ring that operated along the Interstate 25 corridor have been indicted by a statewide grand jury on counts of racketeering, burglary, theft and criminal mischief, all felonies, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced Thursday.
“These defendants operated an extensive crime ring, breaking into nearly 20 businesses and selling stolen merchandise to feed their drug habit,” Suthers said in the announcement.
The indictments were handed up Monday. Rick Joseph Muniz, 37, was identified as the ringleader.
The ring was responsible for a series of burglaries from March to September 2003, according to the indictment. In most of the burglaries, a member of the ring would use rocks to shatter the glass door or windows of a store, it said.
Items stolen included liquor from liquor stores, paintings and statues from art galleries, clothing from sporting goods stores and clothing and artwork from Harley-Davidson stores. Also, safes were taken from several restaurants.
DENVER
Governor signs pension compromise
Gov. Bill Owens signed a compromise Thursday that will cover a projected $11 billion shortfall in the state pension plan.
Lawmakers agreed to change the makeup of the 16-member board, shrinking it by one member. Members of the Public Employees Retirement Association will make 11 appointments, the governor will make three, and the state treasurer will be a permanent member.
The proposal will allow newly hired employees in higher education to choose either a new defined-contribution plan or the traditional defined-benefit plan.
Defined-contribution plans allow workers to decide how their retirement money is invested but do not guarantee how much their pensions will pay. They generally cost employers less to fund than defined-benefit plans, which have fixed pension payments.
Currently, only state government employees have the option of a defined-contribution plan.
Public employees agreed to give up a portion of their raises over the next six years to help keep the plan solvent.
DENVER
Cold-case work finds suspect in 1994 rape
Denver police announced Thursday that they have solved a cold case involving the beating and rape of a 48-year-old woman in 1994 that left her paralyzed.
Their suspect is Benjamin F. Anderson, 31, who will face charges of first-degree sexual assault and second-degree kidnapping.
Anderson is incarcerated for an unrelated sex assault and robbery.
He is scheduled to appear June 8 in Denver District Court to be advised of these recent charges, police said.
A cold-case detective with the assistance of the department’s crime lab found a positive DNA link between evidence involved in the 1994 rape and the suspect, police said.
On the morning of April 16, 1994, the victim was stopped at a convenience store in the 4500 block of Steele Street on her way to work.
A man approached her, asked for a ride and got into her car before she could refuse. He sexually assaulted and beat her, leaving her paralyzed in her car, parked on railroad tracks.
BOULDER
CU’s tab $152,000 for Churchill probe
The University of Colorado has spent about $152,000 to investigate ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill, most of that for legal advice, CU said Thursday.
CU has spent $101,390 on attorneys’ fees for the panel investigating academic misconduct allegations. A report released last week said Churchill committed plagiarism, fabrication and falsification of material.
Other expenses were travel, meals and staff time for members of three committees that have looked into Churchill’s work in the past 15 months.
“The costs, considering the time and effort and intensity of the investigation, appear very reasonable to me,” university spokesman Barrie Hartman said.
Meanwhile, CU has spent $169,000 so far out of a budgeted $435,000 on its review of tenure practices, university spokeswoman Michele McKinney said.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
High fire danger increases restrictions
A fire ban for all areas of unincorporated Jefferson County went into effect today, a step above fire restrictions that were implemented May 1.
Sheriff Ted Mink ordered the ban because of continuing high fire danger and concern about increased recreational activities during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
Prohibited is anything that produces an open flame, any fire including campfires, operating a chain saw without a spark- arresting device, smoking except in vehicles or enclosed buildings, welding except in cleared areas and any fireworks. Exemptions include fires contained within a gas-fueled stove.
Clear Creek County also has implemented a fire ban. Many other counties and federal and state agencies have imposed fire restrictions.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Centennial judge appointed to new post
Grafton Biddle, presiding municipal judge for the city of Centennial as well as a Douglas County magistrate, was appointed as a Douglas County judge Thursday by Gov. Bill Owens. The seat is a new position created this year by the legislature.
Biddle previously worked as a prosecutor at the county, state and federal levels. He is a member of the Douglas County Domestic Violence Task Force and a former Marine. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and the University of Denver law school.
The appointment is effective July 1.
EAGLE
Teen driver cited in crash that hurt 9
The 16-year-old driver of a sport utility vehicle that crashed on Interstate 70 on Wednesday – leaving her and eight schoolmates injured – was cited for careless driving, driving without a license and carrying more passengers than seat belts, the Colorado State Patrol announced Thursday.
The nine girls skipped classes on the last day of school at Battle Mountain High School in Eagle- Vail and were heading west near Eagle when Cynthia Najera of Edwards lost control of the 1991 Jeep Cherokee while traveling about 70 mph.
Passengers Peria Carmona, 14, of Avon and Viridina Loera, 15, of Edwards were airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center with serious injuries.
Najera and passenger Alondra Laureano, 16, of Avon were taken to Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs with moderate injuries.
Passengers Janet Nunez, 14, of Edwards; Jasmin Torres, 15, of Edwards; Alejandra Cornelio, 16, of Edwards; and Carla Fierro, 16, of Edwards were taken to Vail Valley Medical Center with moderate injuries.
