Tag: sex assault
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Colorado justices concerned about retrying defendant after jury signaled acquittal
Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared uncomfortable on Tuesday with allowing a criminal defendant to stand trial a second time after a Larimer County jury signaled it was deadlocked on some counts but had found him not guilty of the more serious charges. Omar Alexander Mena stood trial last summer for three counts…
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Appeals court overturns Adams County sex offense convictions due to prosecutor’s misconduct
Colorado’s second-highest court reversed multiple child sex assault convictions on Thursday after concluding an Adams County prosecutor committed misconduct while cross-examining the defendant. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel observed the charges against Daniel Michael Boerner depended on the jury either believing the child witnesses’ original accusations or believing their trial testimony, which cast doubt…
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2026 courts coverage: A look into what’s happening next year
Several major trials are set to commence next year, including the ones for the Return to Nature funeral home owners, who are being tried separately, and one for a triple-homicide suspect out of Custer County. Here is a rundown of what to look out for in 2026 in the Pikes Peak region criminal justice world.…
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Colorado justices consider where to draw line on experts testifying about child witnesses’ honesty
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered last week how far an expert witness can go in suggesting to a jury that another witness is being truthful, which is generally forbidden. Previously, the state’s Court of Appeals believed a defendant who “persistently” argues an adult influenced a child victim to lie has opened the door…
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Denver man arrested on sex assault charges after allegedly meeting with Pueblo teenager
A man was arrested by Pueblo County Sheriff’s deputies Monday for sex assault after meeting with a 16-year-old, according to a news release by the sheriff’s office. Around 3:30 a.m. Monday, deputies were patrolling Pueblo West when they found two vehicles with four total occupants parked after public hours at Liberty Point. The release stated…
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Air Force Academy cadet found guilty in sex assault court-martial
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A jury of officers found Air Force Academy Cadet Viet Zaengle guilty of sexual assault on Wednesday after hearing from witnesses including the victim. A former girlfriend and fellow cadet accused Zaengle, now a junior, of sexual assault during June 2023 while off campus. His…
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El Paso County sex assault convictions overturned due to judge’s incorrect competency ruling
Colorado’s second-highest court last month vacated a man’s 15-year-old convictions for sexually assaulting a child, finding an El Paso County judge made a flawed determination that the defendant was competent to stand trial. In doing so, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals cautioned it may not be feasible to determine now whether Theodore William…
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Former high school athlete arrested in teen sex assault case
A 20-year-old man turned himself in to authorities over the weekend after the Colorado Springs Police Department alleged that he had sex with a then-14-year-old, videotaped the incident, and shared the video with others. Dallen Jalae Booker turned himself in on Sunday, according to Colorado Springs police. The arrest affidavit for the former Widefield High…
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Appeals judge suggests legislature clarify law providing compensation to exonerated defendants
A member of Colorado’s second-highest court suggested last month that lawmakers clarify whether defendants are only supposed to be eligible for compensation when they are innocent of the specific crime they were convicted of, even if there is evidence their conduct still amounted to a different crime. In 2013, the legislature passed the Exoneration Act,…
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Colorado Springs man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an infant, possessing child pornography
Warning: This article contains disturbing details about sex assault. A Colorado Springs man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting an infant and possessing thousands of pieces of child pornography, an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette detailed. Aaron Mocalkins, 30, faces over 20 charges including sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault of…