CASTLE ROCK — A former CIA contractor freed by Pakistan after killing two men earlier this year was charged Monday with felony assault after a weekend fight that authorities said started over a parking spot.
Raymond Davis, 37, appeared briefly before a magistrate judge in Douglas County on Monday morning, where his attorney said Davis was prepared to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
But Senior Deputy District Attorney Rich Orman said his office planned to upgrade the charges to a felony to better reflect the seriousness of the crime.
Monday afternoon, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office formally charged Davis with second-degree assault, a felony, in addition to an earlier misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
The assault charge, which includes a violent crime count, has a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 16 years.
The charges stem from an altercation Saturday morning in a crowded parking lot outside the Einstein Bagels at the Town Center in Highlands Ranch.
Jeff Maes, 50, told 9News that he and Davis wanted the same parking spot. When Maes took it, Davis rolled down his window and began swearing at him, Maes said.
At some point, Davis got out of his car and punched Maes, whose wife and two daughters — ages 6 and 8 — were with him. Maes told 9News that he had to be treated at a local hospital for injuries, including a large scrape on his head.
Davis was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.
He posted bail of $1,750 and was released.
Davis made headlines in January while working as a contractor in Lahore, Pakistan, when he shot and killed two armed men he said were trying to rob him. U.S. officials said Davis should be released because he was protected under diplomatic immunity.
Davis was freed in March after the victim’s families granted him a pardon in exchange for $2.34 million in compensation. Government officials have said the U.S. did not make the payment.
Davis did not speak during his court appearance Monday or on his way in or out of the courtroom.
His attorney, William Frankfurt, told Magistrate Judge Frank Moschetti he wanted to address a condition of a mandatory protection order that prohibits Davis from carrying a firearm. But Moschetti said he wasn’t inclined to do so, “especially given the nature of the allegations in this case.”
Davis is scheduled to appear in court again this morning.
Sara Burnett: 303-954-1661 or sburnett@denverpost.com
