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Tag: Bail Reform

Suspect Arrested in Alleged Sexual Assault of 13-Year-Old Just Three Hours After Release
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CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Suspect Arrested in Alleged Sexual Assault of 13-Year-Old Just Three Hours After Release

By Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado A man in northeast Colorado was arrested after police say he lured a 13-year-old into an alley and sexually assaulted the child, just hours after he was released from jail. The Fort Morgan Police Department says he has a history of arrests involving sex crime investigations. The most recent arrest stems from an incident on June 9 after a 13-year-old called 911. Investigators determined that 39-year-old Abdikadir Abade had lured the teen into an alley, picked them up and carried them behind a dumpster, then sexually assaulted them. Officers arrested him shortly after the assault. He is facing charges of second-degree kidnapping, sexual assault on a child, enticement of a child and harassment in connection with this investigation. ...
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Colorado’s crime problem is bigger than the laws on the books
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Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado’s crime problem is bigger than the laws on the books

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Colorado’s crime problem isn’t just due to our laws As I've written before, our troubles with crime involve more than just the laws on the books.There are a few steps in the criminal justice process where someone has discretion. Discretion means the ability to be too hard, or too soft.District Attorneys decide on whether to charge and what charges to bring. Judges decide on bail, and the trial judge passes sentence.Each step a chance to be too harsh or too easy.The Complete Colorado article at bottom details a new effort by some lawmakers and talk radio host Jeff Hunt. Their website is linked below the story for convenience.I'll leave it to you to read either, but in brief, their effort is intended to bring publ...
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‘Somebody’s In Our House’: Colorado Father Stops Alleged Repeat Burglar Near Children’s Bedroom
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Fox News, Approved, Local

‘Somebody’s In Our House’: Colorado Father Stops Alleged Repeat Burglar Near Children’s Bedroom

By Stepheny Price and Ashley Papa | Fox News A Denver family said they lived every parent’s worst nightmare, waking up in the middle of the night to find a stranger walking toward their children’s bedrooms. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Kevin and Sarah Root described the terrifying early-morning encounter inside their southwest Denver home. The couple said the break-in happened around 3:30 a.m. "We heard the footsteps coming up the stairs to where our room is," Kevin recalled. "We looked at each other and said, ‘Somebody’s in our house.’ You realize you’re not dreaming — this is real." Sarah immediately grabbed her phone to call 911 while her husband went to check the hallway. "The fear of what’s going to happen when my husband opens the door, that’s what ...
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Phil Weiser’s Failed Experiment in Criminal Justice
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Phil Weiser’s Failed Experiment in Criminal Justice

By Mike O’Donnell | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice  It has become a common theme in many states and cities that the authorities who are responsible for the long-term safety and security of their residents, nevertheless subscribe to the popular fallacy that locking up criminals does little to deter future offenses and is less effective in the long run that social programs or rehabilitation efforts, however those might be defined.  The theory here is that criminals aren’t responsible for their actions, Society is primarily to blame.  The policies of Colorado’s attorney general, Phil Weiser, and the Democrat dominated Colorado legislature prove how foolish and misguided this theory is.  In 2019, the Colorado legislature eliminated the option of cash bail for...
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Data Shows Fewer Repeat Offenders Yet More Violent Crime in Colorado
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Data Shows Fewer Repeat Offenders Yet More Violent Crime in Colorado

By Marissa Ventrelli | The Denver Gazette Colorado’s latest justice data reveals an apparent contradiction: while fewer offenders are returning to prison, violent crime is climbing across the state. A detailed analysis released this month shows Colorado’s recidivism rate has fallen sharply—among the steepest declines nationwide. Yet the same dataset shows that violent offenses, including assault and homicide, have steadily increased since 2013. Analysts point to bail reforms, reduced arrests, and shifting sentencing priorities as major contributors. Supporters of these policies say they prevent unnecessary incarceration, while critics contend they have weakened accountability and deterrence. The findings come as Colorado lawmakers continue to debate whether recent justice refor...
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Law tied sheriff’s hands as violent suspect walked free in Weld County
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Colorado Politics, Approved, Local

Law tied sheriff’s hands as violent suspect walked free in Weld County

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics eld County Sheriff Steve Reams says a 2024 law required him to release a man who had been charged with attempted murder stemming from an incident in Greeley earlier this year. According to Reams, 21-year-old Debisa Ephraim was arrested in April and charged with second-degree attempted murder following an altercation between him and another man that had been captured on video. The victim suffered a brain injury and spent a “substantial” amount of time in the hospital and rehabilitation, but Reams says he is now mostly recovered. Ephraim, a refugee from Tanzania who had a previous record of violent behavior, had been detained in the Weld County Jail for several months when his defense team asked the court to determine whether he was compet...
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Released and reloaded: Montrose bond records show cracks feeding Colorado’s criminal underworld
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Released and reloaded: Montrose bond records show cracks feeding Colorado’s criminal underworld

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice When a Montrose County woman was released on a $0 personal recognizance bond after skipping court in late 2023, it wasn’t her first time facing charges. It wouldn’t be her last either. Within nine months, she was arrested again – this time for second degree assault, harassment and criminal attempt. Her story is not an outlier. It is a warning. “There’s a revolving door with criminals or serious crime,” said Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard in a recent interview with RMV. “Last month we picked up one person five times – they were released on PR bond. There’s no consequences.” To illustrate how Colorado laws are contributing to rising crime and lawlessness, Sheriff Lillard prepared and shared a document showing just one small snapshot in ti...
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