A former backup punter at the University of Northern Colorado accused of stabbing the starting punter was charged Thursday with attempted murder.
The Weld County district attorney’s office also charged 21-year- old Mitch Cozad with second-degree assault. Both charges are felonies and could net Cozad 48 years in prison.
A $500,000 bond for Cozad was posted Thursday, said district attorney spokeswoman Jennifer Finch. Cozad is reportedly at home in Wheatland, Wyo.
His next court appearance in Greeley will likely be scheduled early next week, Finch said. Evans police arrested Cozad in September on suspicion of second-degree assault for his role in the attack on starting punter Rafael Mendoza.
Finch on Thursday declined to specify why Weld District Attorney Ken Buck decided to hit Cozad with the more serious charge of attempted murder.
“The investigation revealed this was the appropriate charge,” Finch said.
Cozad’s attorney, Joseph Gavaldon, couldn’t be reached for comment. Cozad, a walk-on transfer from the University of Wyoming, was suspended from UNC immediately after the attack on Mendoza.
Cozad apparently had stalked Mendoza for several days before the attack and harbored “an extreme hatred, competition and jealously” for Mendoza, according to an Evans Police Department report.
Mendoza, 21, was returning from study hall around 9:37 p.m. on Sept. 11, when Cozad allegedly stabbed him in his kicking leg outside of the Crescent Cove Apartments in Evans.
At the time of the attack, police said they were searching for a second assailant, but no other arrests have been made.
Mendoza missed only one game, but the incident drew national attention.
Charges were expected to be filed against Cozad in late September, but Buck delayed his filing, saying more investigation was needed.
UNC spokesman Nate Haas declined to comment, saying all statements about the case would come from the DA’s office.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
