The families of two murder victims selected the Douglas County victim-assistance coordinator as their 2008 “Champion for Justice.”
Patty Moschner was honored in a ceremony last month by the families of Javad Marshall-Fields and Vivian Wolfe.
Marshall-Fields had been set to testify in a homicide trial against Robert Ray when Marshall-Fields and Wolfe, both 21, were ambushed and gunned down on an Aurora street in June 2005.
Ray’s friend, Sir Mario Owens, was sentenced to death last month for their killings. Ray goes on trial next month.
After the deaths of their children, Rhonda Fields and Christine Wolfe pushed for stronger witness protection. A 2006 law named in honor of Marshall-Fields and Wolfe ensures that district attorneys will get annual training in witness protection.
To fulfill the law, Moschner worked on “a county based, witness-protection-training program for law enforcement. Her effort provided the foundation of a model project, which is being replicated and made available to law-enforcement agencies” statewide, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said today in a news release.
The award reads, in part: “In recognition for your contributions and dedication to serving victims of crime and the criminal-justice community. Thank you for being a strong advocate for victim services.”
Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver added in the statement: “I cannot begin to tell you how fortunate we are to have Patty managing and coordinating our victims services. This very deserving award underscores her contribution not only to Douglas County but the state of Colorado and the entire country.”
