douglas county
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DougCo deputy fired after DUI, careless driving arrest
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A Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy was fired Friday after he was arrested by Parker Police the previous weekend. Andrew Sanders faces charges of driving under the influence, careless driving, assault on a police officer and obstruction in relation to a traffic stop just before 8 p.m. Feb. 7, according to a Friday news release from…
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Colorado justices skeptical that intimate messages relevant to assault case
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Members of the Colorado Supreme Court seemed to agree on Tuesday that a Douglas County judge acted reasonably by blocking evidence of a defendant’s BDSM-related conversations with the victim in his trial for assault and false imprisonment. Jurors found Donald Louis Gerle guilty in 2022. In the prosecution’s telling, Gerle began beating his alleged victim following…
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Second appeals judge voices concerns about new ‘reasonable doubt’ instruction
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Another member of Colorado’s second-highest court registered his concern on Thursday that a portion of the recently revised “reasonable doubt” definition improperly lowers the prosecution’s burden to prove a defendant guilty. Judge Daniel M. Taubman wrote that the current instruction advising jurors to acquit whenever there is “a real possibility the defendant is not guilty”…
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With Buc-ee’s withdrawn from Palmer Lake, other communities signal interest
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The withdrawal of Buc-ee’s developers’ plans with Palmer Lake could be welcome news to other communities that have actively sought to attract the Texas travel chain. The pullout comes after over a year of increasing opposition efforts, but a local consultant with the company said on Wednesday that Buc-ee’s still wanted to build in the…
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DougCo launches new alert and reporting systems
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Douglas County residents have a new way of getting up-to-date police alerts and reporting low-level crimes. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office rolled out its new emergency alert system, DougCoAlert, in January. It replaced the previous CodeRED system used by the county until November. The sheriff’s office cancelled the $65,000 annual contract with Crisis24, the company…
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Appeals court overturns convictions after Douglas County judge let biased juror serve
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Colorado’s second-highest court reversed a defendant’s robbery-related convictions and 18-year prison sentence on Thursday because a Douglas County judge allowed a biased juror to serve. During Ahmarion Kaliel Shead’s trial in January 2023, one juror, identified as “J.H.,” indicated on his questionnaire that he was “pro-law enforcement.” J.H. also disclosed that a relative worked for…
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Colorado Supreme Court to address child’s CCTV testimony
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The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will review the impact of a victim’s closed-circuit testimony on the prosecution of a juvenile defendant. At least three of the court’s seven members must agree to hear an appeal. There is currently one vacancy, which will be filled next month. The justices also signaled they…
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Former Centennial teacher sentenced to 60 years for sexually assaulting children
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A former teacher at a Centennial private school was sentenced to 60 years in prison Friday for sexually assaulting multiple children in his care. Christopher Ballard, 28, of Lakewood, had been charged with nearly 24 sexual offenses against 12 child victims at the Journey Academy, where he had been employed since 2021, according to a…
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Douglas County Board of Commissioners selects new chairman
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The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will have a new chairman in 2026, but not a new face. Commissioner George Teal was chosen to serve as chairman on Jan. 13 after serving on the board since 2021, according to a news release from Douglas County. The commissioners switch leadership each year based upon a majority…
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Flock cameras assist in road rage shooting arrest in Douglas County
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Douglas County deputies on Monday said Flock Safety cameras were critical in an investigation that led to the arrest of a road rage shooting suspect. Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said 43-year-old Mitchell Aaron Weber was arrested Saturday morning after they said he fired a weapon at another vehicle near Quebec Street and…