Two men facing dozens of felonies in an Adams County paving scandal are set to face separate trials in August.
Sam Gomez, a former construction manager in the Adams County public works department, and Dennis Coen, a former Quality Paving Co. vice president, are among six people arrested in a case in which taxpayers were allegedly billed more than $1.8 million for work that was never done.
Both men pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning in Adams County District Court.
Judge Chris Melonakis scheduled a one-week trial for Gomez on Aug. 8 and a one-week trial for Coen on Aug. 22.
Gomez faces 76 felony counts, including charges of theft, forgery, attempting to influence a public official and embezzlement. Coen faces 62 felony counts, including theft, forgery and attempting to influence a public official.
One other former Quality Paving employee, Heath Russo, has pleaded guilty and indicated that he will testify for prosecutors.
Former Quality Paving president Jerry Rhea faces an April 15 preliminary hearing on 23 felony counts, former company employee Louie Schimpf faces a June 6 trial on 34 felony counts, and former county road inspector Stacey Parkin faces a July 25 trial on 59 felony counts. Kevin Vaughan, The Denver Post
