CENTENNIAL, Colo.-
A man who reported his daughter missing and is now facing charges of child abuse resulting in death appeared in court Tuesday as lawyers discussed whether details of the evidence against him will be made public.
Judge J. Mark Hannen said he may rule on whether to release the documents at Thompson’s next hearing on June 22.
Thompson, who has been in jail since May 16, showed no emotion as he watched the proceedings from a seat in the jury box. He wore an orange jail jumpsuit and his hands were shackled to a chain around his waist.
In November 2005, Thompson said his 6-year-old daughter Aarone ran away after a fight about a cookie but, three days later, police halted the search, saying they believed the girl had been dead for as long as 18 months.
A grand jury issued a 60-count indictment against Thompson this month, but in the version made public, names of the alleged victims and the facts backing up those allegations were redacted at the request of prosecutors.
District Attorney Carol Chambers has said she wants avoid publicity that could prompt a judge to move the trial, and that she wants to protect Thompson’s other children.
Thompson’s public defenders also want the entire court file to be sealed.
Thompson and his late girlfriend Shely Lowe lived together with a blended family of seven other children and Lowe’s brother. The indictment said Lowe acted with Thompson on many of the alleged crimes.
The Denver Post has filed a motion to release the full indictment, and the newspaper’s lawyer also objected to sealing the entire court file.
Hannen agreed to allow lawyers to file two motions under seal before the next hearing. One relates to four possible prosecution witnesses who have been represented by the public defender’s office. The other would allow Thompson’s lawyers to ask for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence of probable cause to continue the case against him.
Hannen also said he would read the transcript of the grand jury proceedings on Thompson.
