A former day-care operator already sentenced to prison on child sexual-assault convictions faces another trial on more than 40 child- pornography charges after an appeals court restored 11 of the pornography charges Thursday.
Prosecutors charged Joseph Keith Renander, 29, with 45 felony and misdemeanor counts of exploitation of children after investigators said they found pornographic images on his computer.
Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson had ordered prosecutors to reorganize those charges in a way he thought would be less likely to confuse jurors. That resulted in 11 fewer counts against Renander.
Prosecutors appealed, saying Jackson overstepped his authority and violated the constitutional separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches. A three-judge panel of the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed, restoring the 11 counts.
Renander’s attorney did not immediately return a call. Renander denied the sexual-assault allegations. He was accused of sexually assaulting six girls who had been placed at day-care centers he operated in Lakewood and Golden. Under the sentence, Renander must serve at least 78 years before he can apply for parole.
