Doctor says she saw no early signs of child abuse
BOULDER — A doctor who delivered a baby in 2006 has testified she saw no signs of abuse until a week before the baby died at age 10 weeks.
Dr. Jill Siegfried took the stand Monday in the trial of Molly Mid yette, who is charged with fatal child abuse in the March 2006 death of her son Jason.
Siegfried testified that Jason’s parents did not tell her about any troubling symptoms until Jason was brought to her office Feb. 24, 2006, with indications of a head injury.
Prosecutors allege Molly Midyette did not seek medical attention for her injured son. They have charged her husband, Alex Midyette, with hurting him.
Alex Midyette is set to go on trial in January on four counts of fatal child abuse.
Denver-Boulder express-lane funds sought
The state Department of Transportation is asking the federal government for $188 million to build commuter express lanes on U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder.
If funded, the proposal would add an 18-mile express lane in each direction of U.S. 36 between I-25 north of Denver and Foothills Parkway in Boulder. The lanes would be separated from the existing highway by buffers.
The express lanes would be free to buses, motorcycles and vehicles with two or more occupants. Solo drivers could pay to use the lanes, with a fluctuating fee depending on the traffic congestion.
Man pleads not guilty of stalking cheerleader
CASTLE ROCK — A 46-year-old Larkspur man accused of stalking and touching a 15-year-old cheerleader on the buttocks pleaded not guilty Monday.
Carl Ruch is expected to stand trial April 29 on sexual assault and stalking charges.
The cheerleader was on the same squad as Ruch’s daughter at Castle View High School. Ruch was an officer in the school booster club who began flirting with the girl, sending cards and text messages, last summer, according to testimony in a preliminary hearing last month.
The girl told authorities that Ruch touched her on the buttocks when they passed on the stairs in his home in August.
When he began e-mailing the girl, a detective who was using the e-mail account responded. In those e-mails, Ruch professed his affections and offered to show her “how to make love without having sex,” lead detective Heather Mykes testified.
When Ruch arranged to meet the girl in private Sept. 12, sheriff’s deputies were waiting and arrested him.
Mexican citizen gets $1.5 million in jail settlement
PARK COUNTY — A Mexican citizen who filed a federal lawsuit against Park County for medical neglect during a 2003 detention in the county jail has reached a $1.5 million settlement, his attorneys announced Monday.
Park County’s insurers will pay Moises Carranza-Reyes for injuries and illnesses he suffered while he was detained.
Carranza-Reyes was placed in the jail on immigration violations. While in custody, he lost a lung and part of his left leg after developing a streptococcus infection.
Carranza-Reyes’ lawsuit alleged that the infection was due to filthy conditions in the jail and inadequate medical services.
Park County officials do not admit any liability and have denied Carranza-Reyes’ charges.
