Claiming he was just the latest in a string of “sugar daddies” lured by a woman later bent on revenge, Jeffrey Campos, former president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver, says he wants a jury to see that his accuser files empty charges against boyfriends when relationships go sour.
Campos, 55, also says a police surveillance camera on a light pole shows him walking away from his accuser, real estate broker Jennifer Reins, and not attacking her.
Campos resigned his chamber post in July after his arrest on felony kidnapping charges. Reins was a member of the chamber, and the two had an affair that Campos said he tried to end.
He was eventually charged with misdemeanor assault and was in Denver County Court on Thursday trying to prove Reins has a pattern of accusing boyfriends of crimes when they try to break up with her.
Reins was in court Thursday but did not appear in the courtroom or offer any comment.
Campos asked Judge Doris Burd on Thursday to allow three of Reins’ ex-boyfriends to testify. Campos’ lawyer, Gary Lozow, said the ex-boyfriends would say Reins accused each of attacking her after they tried to end their relationships and refused to help support her. In every case, Reins recanted the accusations.
Lozow’s request to present evidence showing a pattern of behavior that discredits his accuser is unusual. Typically, prosecutors use the tactic to show a defendant has a propensity for a crime.
Burd is expected to rule on the request soon. Campos’ trial is scheduled for Feb. 8.
Lozow painted a picture of a woman “scheming to use the system to her best advantage.”
“She’s put people in jail before, accused them of wrongdoing to get them back to the fold,” Lozow said. “It’s her efforts to find not only a sugar daddy, but at least a pocket with money.”
David Migoya: 303-954-1506, dmigoya@denverpost.comor
