A young woman testified in court Tuesday that she had sex with a minister in his Denver home when she was 17.
The Rev. Michael Peters, 37, faces two sex-assault charges stemming from the allegations of the woman.
Peters, a Baptist minister who was the girl’s choir instructor, counseled the alleged victim for teen issues and for an earlier sexual assault against her, she said.
The woman, whose identity is being withheld by The Denver Post because she’s an alleged sex-assault victim, told the jury that flirting with Peters gave way to kissing, fondling and eventually sex.
The alleged criminal sexual contact began in 2003, according to court testimony. The woman told a Denver police investigator of the alleged sexual encounters with Peters in January 2006.
“I was special to him; he loved me,” the woman told jurors. “It kind of made me feel different from the rest of my friends.”
A transcript of an explicit instant message, allegedly between the two, was read in court, and prosecutors entered letters and a phone bill as part of the evidence in the case.
Defense attorney Lisa Wayne noted that some of the documents were not dated and others didn’t include the defendant’s name.
The jury trial is scheduled to continue today.
DENVER
Neck, spinal injuries killed mauled keeper
A zookeeper mauled by a jaguar died from severe neck and spinal injuries, the Denver coroner’s office has ruled.
Ashlee Pfaff, 28, was a worker at the Denver Zoo when a 140-pound jaguar attacked her Feb. 24.
The coroner’s report was finalized May 29. A police investigation finished shortly after the attack concluded no criminal wrongdoing, said Detective John White, a police spokesman.
Staff attempted to help during the attack, even trying to use a fire extinguisher to stave off the animal, zoo officials said.
The jaguar was shot and killed.
DENVER
Denver likely finalist for federal road cash
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Gov. Bill Ritter are expected to announce today that metro Denver is a finalist for federal support for new toll lanes on U.S. 36.
According to a Department of Transportation release, they will announce details of a “major initiative to fight traffic congestion in the Denver region.”
In April, local officials applied for $187 million to build high-occupancy toll lanes – one in each direction – between Boulder and Interstate 25.
Atlanta, Minneapolis, Tucson and New York City are among the other cities vying for some of the $1 billion available for projects that combine tolling, transit, technology and telework options.
AURORA
Firefighter resigns on theft, drug charges
An Aurora firefighter has resigned amid theft and drug charges after colleagues alleged he stole painkillers from a medical supply box, authorities said Tuesday.
Aurora police on Monday issued a summons for Christopher Garipay, 30, of Parker, a six-year veteran with the Fire Department, who resigned last week. He faces charges of theft, embezzlement of public property and felony possession and use of a controlled substance.
Garipay could not be reached for comment. He is due in Arapahoe County District Court on July 12.
In early April, firefighters discovered painkillers in a firetruck medical kit had been tampered with. Aurora police investigators were alerted and within days Garipay was a suspect, Aurora fire Capt. Mike Ackman said.
GOLDEN
Outside counsel to defend commissioner
Outside counsel paid for by taxpayers will represent Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove as an individual in a lawsuit filed in late May by a former Arvada bank employee.
The county board will be represented by county attorneys, Deputy County Attorney Ellen Wakeman said Tuesday.
The lawsuit filed by Lori Stille names the board, a private investigator and Congrove as defendants. Congrove is accused of harassing and threatening Stille and her daughters shortly after he took office in 2005.
ASPEN
Attorney Ireland wins runoff for mayor’s job
Bike-riding environmentalist attorney Mick Ireland bested Ayn Rand-quoting developer Tim Semrau in a runoff election for Aspen mayor Tuesday.
“Aspen is the sort of community that wants to control its own destiny and it is willing to take unorthodox steps to do that,” said Ireland by way of explaining his victory.
Ireland took 57 percent of the votes in an election that drew 2,122 voters.
Ireland, 57, has vowed as mayor to make Aspen a world example in the fight against global warming.
Ireland’s race against Semrau, who did not return a call for comment following the election, was the most expensive in Aspen’s history.
Ireland raised more than $40,000 and Semrau more than $50,000, in the contest to replace Helen Klanderud.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Arson suspect to face trial for two deaths
A man accused of starting a fire that killed two people and destroyed an apartment complex has been ordered to stand trial on murder and arson charges.
Derrick “Nicky” Johnson, 24, is accused of setting fire to the Castle West apartments Jan. 16 to get revenge on the mother of his child for breaking up with him.
Defense attorney Rick Levinson said the fire could have been started by a meth lab in one of the apartments, by someone trying to silence witnesses in a purported sexual assault or by angry tenants who were being evicted.
Johnson is being held without bail. He is scheduled to enter a plea on July 18.
DES MOINES, Iowa
Coloradan allegedly had 700 lbs. of pot
A Colorado man was arrested Tuesday after authorities discovered almost 700 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle – a street value of about $2 million, officials said.
Michael Suitt, of Centennial, was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and failure to affix drug tax stamps, according to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
He was booked in the Dallas County Jail on $42,250 bail.
