Aspen restaurant owner Klaus Christ counted among his customers and friends John Denver, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Goldie Hawn and James Loyd.
His Golden Horn restaurant was a favorite of locals; visiting film, music and media celebrities; even royalty.
Never did the native of Switzerland expect anything but friendship from them, including Loyd, a former Colorado State Patrol trooper and Aspen police officer.
When Loyd was led handcuffed from a Denver courtroom Tuesday, sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay the wheelchair-bound Christ $517,000 in restitution, Christ was shaken, even though Loyd bilked him out of his life savings.
“I’ve known him (Loyd) since 1975. That’s what hurts so much,” Christ said. “I would have done anything for him.”
In 2001, shortly after Christ suffered a massive stroke, Christ turned over his financial affairs to Loyd. Christ had sold the Golden Horn in 1996, after 25 years, and retired to Arizona, although he continued to live part of the year in Colorado.
It was in 2001, prosecutor Kandace Gerdes said, that Loyd began to live a lavish lifestyle, plundering Christ’s savings and hijacking his identity. Loyd, 56, spent the money on luxury trips, extravagant dining, fine clothing, sports tickets and at gentlemen’s clubs, dropping $93,000 at Denver’s Diamond Cabaret.
Sitting in front of Denver District Judge Herbert Stern, Christ told the judge he wanted his life restored.
“I can’t believe that a man I considered my best friend did this heinous crime to me,” Christ said. “I’d like to get my life back.”
Christ, 62, said his health is so poor and he is so destitute that he fears he will never be able to return to Switzerland to see his family.
Loyd did not offer any excuses to Christ.
“I don’t know where to start, Klaus, I really don’t,” Loyd said. “You always were my good friend. Because of my selfishness … I put you in such a terrible position.”
Stern said it was apparent that Loyd had no assets and gave him the maximum sentence.
Now, Christ is left sorting out his life with banks, credit-card companies and bill collectors.
“This man has taken … my life and filled it with grief, fear, anxiety, anger, rage, frustration and uncertainties.”
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
