Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Courts

Former Adams County sheriff pleads guilty to felony forgery, sentenced to probation
Approved, The Colorado Sun

Former Adams County sheriff pleads guilty to felony forgery, sentenced to probation

By Olivia Prentzel | The Colorado Sun A former Adams County sheriff pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges Thursday in Denver District Court in a scheme to falsify records to lie about the number of state-mandated training hours that he completed.  Rick Reigenborn pleaded guilty to felony forgery and two counts of second-degree forgery and first-degree official misconduct, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office said. The former sheriff received a 12-month probation for the charges. If he stays out of trouble during that period, his felony will be wiped from his record.  As part of his plea agreement, Reigenborn will no longer be eligible to serve as a peace officer in Colorado and he must write an apology letter to the employees of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. R...
In Truth Social post, Trump slams ‘fake news’ reports of him sleeping in court
Approved, National, New York Post

In Truth Social post, Trump slams ‘fake news’ reports of him sleeping in court

By Ben Kochman and Kaydi Pelletier | New York Post Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform around 2 p.m. today to rail against "fake news" reports that he's fallen asleep in court, saying he's "simply" closed his "beautiful blue eyes." "Contrary to the FAKE NEWS MEDIA, I don’t fall asleep during the Crooked D.A.’s Witch Hunt, especially not today. I simply close my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes, listen intensely, and take it ALL in!!!" he wrote. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE NEW YORK POST
Donald Trump held in contempt for violating gag order in New York trial
Approved, National, Politico

Donald Trump held in contempt for violating gag order in New York trial

By BEN FEUERHERD and ERICA ORDEN | Politico Donald Trump was held in contempt by Justice Juan Merchan Tuesday morning for social media posts and other statements the former president made that violated a gag order imposed in his Manhattan criminal case. The judge ordered Trump to pay a $9,000 fine — $1,000 for each violation. And he warned Trump that additional violations could land him in jail. “Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment,” the judge wrote in an eight-page decision. READ THE FULL STORY AT POLITICO
How much do we really know about the composition of the Trump jury?
Approved, National, Politico

How much do we really know about the composition of the Trump jury?

By CALDER MCHUGH | Politico The first week of former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial has concluded, and a full jury has been chosen — twelve jurors and six alternates. Beginning next week, they’ll put to the test Trump’s contention that he can’t get a fair trial in liberal Manhattan. What we’ve learned after a week filled almost entirely with the process of jury selection is that the jurors appear to represent a reasonable cross section of the kind of people you generally find in Manhattan. There’s a salesperson from West Harlem, an engineer from the Upper West Side, a businessperson from Murray Hill, two lawyers, two people who work in education and two people who work in finance. That’s in addition to a health care worker, a product manager and a tech worker. Many of the...
Trump rakes in over $1M in small donations after first day in New York hush money trial
Approved, National, The Washington Times

Trump rakes in over $1M in small donations after first day in New York hush money trial

By Mallory Wilson  | The Washington Times Former President Donald Trump raised over $1 million in campaign funds after his first court day in his New York hush-money case. Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law and newly elected co-chair of the Republican National Committee told “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday that Americans came out in support of Mr Trump while he faces his first criminal trial. “The people of America spoke up yesterday in support of Donald Trump to the tune of a million and a half dollars raised for his campaign,” she said. “The average donation was $28, so even here, in the abysmal Biden economy, people are coming out and they are financially supporting this president.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Supreme Court grapples with obstruction charge lobbed at 350 Jan. 6 defendants, Trump
Approved, National, The Washington Times

Supreme Court grapples with obstruction charge lobbed at 350 Jan. 6 defendants, Trump

By Stephen Dinan and Alex Swoyer | The Washington Times The Supreme Court struggled Tuesday with the government’s case against 350 Jan. 6 defendants from the 2021 protest at the Capitol, with justices pondering how a law written in the wake of the Enron document-shredding scandal can be applied to those who brought the 2020 election certification to a halt. The law criminalizes obstructing or impeding an official proceeding, which the Biden administration says goes beyond courtrooms and criminal investigations and covers Congress’ electoral vote counting that the demonstration delayed. But GOP-appointed justices repeatedly challenged the Justice Department’s aggressive use of the law against the Jan. 6 defendants, questioning why it wasn’t also used in 2020 against rioters who att...
Funeral home owners, found with nearly 200 decomposing bodies, now charged with COVID fraud
Approved, Fox News, Local

Funeral home owners, found with nearly 200 decomposing bodies, now charged with COVID fraud

By Greg Wehner |  FOX News A Colorado Springs, Colorado couple who authorities claim abandoned nearly 200 bodies in a building infested with maggots and flies, faces additional charges after allegedly spending more than $880,000 in COVID relief funds on vacations, cosmetic surgery and other personal expenses. Jon Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, owned the Back to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado Springs and had been facing 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, five counts of theft, four counts of money laundering and over 50 counts of forgery. An indictment unsealed on Monday alleged the Hallfords used $882,300 in COVID pandemic relief funds to buy items for themselves, including cars, dinners, cryptocurrency and tuition for their child. READ THE FULL STORY AT FO...
Man given maximum sentence for killing of K-9 Graffit, other crimes
Approved, denvergazette.com, First Judicial District, Local

Man given maximum sentence for killing of K-9 Graffit, other crimes

By First Judicial District Eduardo Armando Romero was given the maximum sentence of 12 years in prison for killing Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) K-9 Graffit and other related crimes from the February 2023 incident. Romero pleaded guilty earlier this year and, as a result, faced 8-12 years in prison. Romero received a total of 12 years to be served consecutively to the sentence Romero is already serving for similar crimes he committed in Denver. At today’s sentencing, the resounding message was that K9 Graffit, who was the most experienced and trained dog on JCSO’s team, was not just a dog. Deputies from JCSO spoke and submitted letters describing the profound impact that Graffit’s death has had on them, detailing what he meant to each of them and to the JCSO family. ...
Read the questions prospective Trump jurors have to answer before they’re selected in hush money trial
National, Washington Examiner

Read the questions prospective Trump jurors have to answer before they’re selected in hush money trial

Annabella Rosciglione | Washington Examiner The jury selection process is tricky in high-profile cases, especially when involving former President Donald Trump.  The jury is being selected for Trump’s New York hush money case. Judge Juan Merchan indicated that the trial would move forth by outlining his jury selection process in a letter sent to the defense and prosecution. In a typical manner for a trial, possible jurors may excuse themselves before the trial for an “honest, legitimate and good faith reason” they may not be able to serve on the trial.  After that process, the remaining possible jurors will be asked various questions to determine if they can serve in People v. Donald Trump.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Fraud
Approved, National, The Epoch Times

FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Fraud

By Michael Washburn | The Epoch Times NEW YORK—A federal judge on March 28 sentenced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried to 25 years in prison for defrauding investors of $8 billion in the fallen cryptocurrency exchange. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan handed down the sentence at a Manhattan court hearing after rejecting Mr. Bankman-Fried’s claim that FTX customers did not actually lose money and accusing him of lying during his trial testimony. In November, jurors convicted Mr. Bankman-Fried of all seven counts of conspiracy and fraud with which government lawyers charged him. “He knew it was wrong,” Judge Kaplan said of Mr. Bankman-Fried before handing down the sentence. “He knew it was criminal. He regrets that he made a very bad bet about the likelihood of getting caught. But he is...