Doug Bruce was in court again this week for his third hearing before District Court Judge Sheila Rappaport since April regarding alleged probation violations. This time the defendant was in charge, representing himself, as he attempted to slap down the legitimacy of the six charges in his original summons. It hasn’t quite moved into Jarndyce v. Jarndyce territory, but round four is now scheduled for October, and nearly 10 hours of court time have been devoted to a process that usually requires less than half an hour. First Assistant Attorney General Robert Shapiro has represented the State of Colorado, while Bruce is appearing pro se.

Bruce contends the rules with which he is expected to comply are vague, imprecise and, in certain instances, undefined. Is an ice pick, for example, a dangerous weapon that has to be reported? “Only if he keeps it under his pillow,” Bruce joked. When asked by his probation officer whether he had experienced any police contacts, Bruce narrowly construed the question and failed to mention a red light ticket he had received from an El Paso County sheriff’s deputy. Yet, by the time his probation officer learned of the ticket, it had been dismissed in a court hearing. The state’s complaint that he failed to return a financial disclosure form has been thrown into question because there’s no proof it was ever mailed.

The remaining serious charge is wrapped up in the sale of Bruce’s late mother’s condominium in Colorado Springs. On the market for seven years, it finally sold in December 2014. Bruce then paid half the net proceeds to his brother, in accordance with their mother’s wishes. Whether this payment is judged as a reportable debt hinges on whether the payment to his brother was a transfer or a contractual indebtedness, and the sale itself a contractual obligation. It’s all further complicated by Bruce’s decision to use Colorado Springs Councilwoman Helen Collins as an agent in the sale. Their reasons for this arrangement remain a mystery, as the hearing took an unexpected turn. Judge Rappaport interrupted the proceedings as Collins was about to be called as a defense witness, saying she had received a sealed advisory from the attorney general requiring her to advise Bruce and Collins their testimony might incriminate them in a class-four felony and that they should seek counsel before testifying.

Collins is under investigation by the Colorado Springs Independent Ethics Commission for her role in the property sale. Shapiro explained that, while no criminal investigation has been authorized, he had examined documents that might be construed to show that Bruce and Collins perpetrated a fraud that prevented a secured creditor from collecting against the proceeds of the condo sale. That creditor is the City of Colorado Springs, which subsequently filed a $7,000 judgment against Bruce in another legal squabble. In court, Bruce rose to notify the judge that he has filed an appeal in federal court of his conviction and the decision by the state Court of Appeals to support the lower court. If his lawsuit is accepted, it will moot any further state actions until his 64 claims for action. Bruce then alleged Shapiro was attempting to intimidate Collins. The judge said the court had to inform them about their right against self-incrimination, which led to a debate regarding who was responsible for providing legal counsel and whether indigence was required.

Meanwhile, Shapiro indicated he has supplemental charges, which the court did not allow to be folded into this hearing, that he is ready to file against Bruce in the event the probation-violation charges should become stalled.

– mnhwriter@msn.com