Denver – State judicial officials have dismissed an ethics complaint against Jefferson County’s district attorney over his handling of the case against a former Denver judge and city attorney.
The complaint accused District Attorney Scott Storey of being overzealous in his prosecution of Larry Manzanares, who was charged with three felony counts in connection with a stolen laptop that was traced to his house. Manzanares, a former judge who resigned as Denver’s city attorney after the allegations emerged, committed suicide June 22, hours after being advised of the charges against him in court.
In a letter dated Monday, state assistant regulation counsel Louise Culberson-Smith wrote to the complainant: “We have concluded that the situation you have reported does not present sufficient evidence to support disciplinary charges against Mr. Storey.”
The complaint was dismissed before Storey’s deadline to file a reply. Culberson-Smith said she and several other attorneys reached the decision after reviewing court records and a video of a news conference Storey gave on the case.
Storey said he is relieved at the decision.
“I’m just glad it’s behind me,” he said. “I feel good that they reached the result that they did, and I’m moving on.”
Additional local news briefs:
WESTMINSTER
Plea set for Oct. 29 in hit-run death of boy
A man accused in a hit-and- run collision that killed an 8- year-old boy in a go-cart is scheduled to enter a plea Oct. 29.
Sean Christopher Daniels of Westminster faces a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The 31-year-old Daniels is free on $25,000 bond.
He appeared in court Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Daniels was driving a pickup that struck a go-cart carrying Quinton Von Duyke and his 10-year-old brother, Kaeden, on a Westminster street June 23.
Quinton was killed, and Kaeden was injured. Neither was wearing a helmet and only Quinton was wearing a seat belt, police said.
DENVER
Southwest flier faces federal criminal case
A Southwest Airlines passenger accused of being drunk, trying to choke a passenger and yelling at the plane’s crew was charged with interfering with flight attendants in U.S. District Court on Tuesday.
Andy Lee Osuna, 29, was on board a flight from Chicago to Las Vegas on Friday and was arrested after the flight was diverted to Denver in response to the commotion.
The cabin crew, along with other passengers, had to restrain Osuna with a pair of “flex cuffs” after he pushed a flight attendant, according to an arrest affidavit written by FBI Agent Joel E. Nishida.
Osuna made some crude remarks to a young female passenger seated near him, prompting a male passenger to ask him to be quiet, the affidavit says. Osuna then grabbed the man’s collar and wouldn’t let go until a flight attendant forced his hands off, the record says.
Another flight attendant told the FBI that she served Osuna two sets of two rum-and-Coke drinks and then cut him off when he asked for another set.
She said that while she was helping get the flex cuffs on, Osuna tried to touch her inappropriately, the affidavit says.
Another attendant had to pull up Osuna’s pants while he was restrained because his pants and underwear were down, exposing a buttock, the affidavit says.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Death penalty to be sought in cop’s killing
District Attorney John New some will seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing a Colorado Springs police officer in December.
Marco Lee, 25, is accused of killing Officer Kenneth Jordan on Dec. 4. Lee is accused of shooting Jordan multiple times. Jordan was attempting to conduct a roadside sobriety test on Lee when the shooting occurred.
Jordan was one of two police officers killed in Colorado Springs in 2006. Officer Jared Jensen was shot to death Feb. 22, 2006.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Airman charged with having child porn
A senior airman at the Air Force Academy has been charged with possession of sexually explicit images, according to the academy.
Senior Airman Carlos M. Martinez was charged Monday with possession of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and images of humans engaged in sexually explicit conduct with animals.
Martinez was also charged with electronically distributing the images of the minors.
The FBI originally discovered the images on Martinez’s personal computer. An Article 32 hearing, similar to a preliminary hearing, began Tuesday.
DENVER
DA offers nine-week course about office
The Denver district attorney’s office is opening a nine-week series of presentations and discussion about the work of its office for the public.
The Citizens Institute will run weekly starting the night of Sept. 10. Prosecutors and other office officials will cover all aspects of the office, including prosecutions, investigations, the gang unit and other programs.
Applications are being taken at /CI.htm, and people with questions can call 720-913-9258.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.
Deputy police chief dies in office workout
Deputy Police Chief George W. “Bill” Stanford died Monday. He was 45.
Stanford was a 22-year veteran of the department. He died in the department’s gymnasium from a heart attack while running on a treadmill.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to an editor’s error, the airman charged with child pornography at the Air Force Academy was identified in the headline as a cadet.
