Brian Washington, originally accused of attempting to kill Vernice Griffin as she sat in her car, pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree assault.
Washington, 28, fired directly into Griffin’s car as she sat at the intersection on Sept. 18. Griffin, a nurse, ducked and was not injured in the attack at 33rd Avenue and Pontiac Street in Denver.
Washington also is accused of killing Aurora detective Michael Thomas as he sat in his car at an Aurora intersection two days later. He is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity in that case.
Washington faces up to 26 years in prison when he is sentenced in July in the Denver case.
Griffin testified at a pretrial hearing in October that Washington was dancing in front of her car, making hand gestures like a rapper and touching his gun before he fired.
After the shot was fired, Griffin remained motionless, playing dead. Washington then walked to the driver’s side window and pointed the gun at her, but she was able to speed away before a second shot was fired.
CRAIG
3 had been drinking in Jeep’s fatal crash
The three Craig men who died when their vehicle went off a cliff in Craig June 1 were impaired by alcohol, according to autopsy results.
Waylon Owens-Plantiko, 28; David Johnston, 32; and Jaron Green, 31, had blood alcohol levels above the legal 0.08 limit.
Owens-Plantiko was driving the Jeep Cherokee when it mysteriously plunged 125 feet off a cliff at 1:40 a.m. The autopsy found the three men died at the scene of head and internal injuries.
The Craig Police Department is still investigating the cause of the accident. Craig Police Chief Walter Vanatta said Monday he was waiting to hear what the levels of alcohol were for each of the men before he commented on the investigation.
He said the vehicle did not skid before going off the cliff and did not appear to be speeding up the two-track dirt road leading to the cliff.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Fall from car’s hood puts teen in critical
A 17-year-old was in critical condition Sunday morning after falling off the hood of a car that was going around in circles in the Citadel Mall parking lot, police said.
The investigation is continuing, and charges are pending, said Lt. Skip Arms, a spokesman with the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Police were called to the scene at 1:37 a.m. Sunday. The driver of the car was also 17 years old.
DENVER
Police seek clues in man’s shooting death
A man died early Monday when he was shot multiple times on the 1600 block of Pearl Street, Denver police said.
Police hadn’t identified the victim or any suspects, said Sonny Jackson, a spokesman for the Denver Police Department. The victim was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Denver police or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
BOND
Fire at historic lodge likely arsonist’s work
Authorities say the fire that burned down the venerable State Bridge Lodge may have been arson to cover up a burglary.
An arson dog detected the presence of hydrocarbons, which are found in accelerant chemicals that make fires burn faster, but chemical tests have not yet been completed, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations.
The lodge, a gathering site for river runners, bikers, cowboys and musicians, burned to the ground on June 2.
A reward of up to $5,000 is offered by the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and the Eagle County Crime Stoppers for information resulting in an arrest or indictment of a suspect. Anonymous tips can be left at 1-800-962-TIPS or 970-328-7007.
MESA COUNTY
22 charges for ex-cop in crash deaths of 2
A former Lafayette police officer charged with 22 crimes in connection with the high-speed crash deaths of two college students in March waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday.
Patrick Strawmatt, 42, appeared in a court hearing that was attended by the families of the victims, Jennifer Kois and Jake Brock, both 19.
The two died on Interstate 70 east of Grand Junction when Strawmatt rammed his sport utility vehicle into the back of Kois’ and Brock’s vehicle. He was speeding at up to 120 mph, according to the Colorado State Patrol, and had a blood-alcohol level more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Strawmatt is charged with first-degree murder as well as 21 lesser charges and is in the Mesa County Jail. His attorney, Mesa County Public Defender David Eisner, requested a two-month delay before Strawmatt’s arraignment Aug. 10.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
19-year-old charged in school’s arson fire
A 19-year-old man was charged Monday with starting a fire at an Arvada elementary school that caused more than $2 million in damage, according to court documents.
Tyler John Newhart faces three felony charges for starting a June 1 fire at Weber Elementary School, according to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
Newhart, held in Jefferson County Jail on a $50,000 bond, is charged with first-degree arson, criminal mischief and second-degree burglary. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
DENVER
Minister’s sex-assault case ends in mistrial
The trial of a Baptist minister accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl he counseled has ended in a mistrial in Denver District Court.
The jury went out Thursday but could not reach a verdict on Monday after 14 hours of deliberation.
Defense attorney Lisa Wayne had argued that the teenager lived in a “fantasy world” and the allegations against the Rev. Michael Peters are unfounded.
But prosecutor Kerri Lombardi said the woman had nothing to gain from concocting a story. Peters, 37, was charged with three counts of sex assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. The woman is now 20.
A hearing to set a new trial date is scheduled for June 29.
