douglas county
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Colorado justices weigh constitutionality of student backpack search based on confidential tip
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The Colorado Supreme Court considered on Wednesday whether a tip submitted through the state’s confidential school safety system provided a Douglas County administrator with reasonable suspicion to search a student’s backpack for drugs. A trial judge blocked evidence from the search from being used against the child, prompting the district attorney’s office to appeal directly…
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Douglas County commissioners ponder revisiting ‘home rule’ proposal after last year’s failure
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The future of Douglas County chasing “home rule” status may not be in the hands of commissioners, but instead by residents who are considering placing the issue back on the ballot, according to one commissioner. Last March, Douglas County commissioners proposed to become a home rule county. The three Republican commissioners asserted that home rule…
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Douglas County School District employee arrested on child exploitation charges
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Douglas County deputies arrested a new school district staff member for allegedly possessing child pornography. On Thursday, deputies arrested John Michael Beccia Jr., 35, of Highlands Ranch. He faces charges including aggravated incest, sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and sexual exploitation of a child. Since November, Beccia…
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Home rule, sports complex and school board elections: Here are the top stories in Douglas County in 2025
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Douglas County this year failed to achieve home rule status, voters elected a progressive-leaning school board and officials completed a land transfer to build a massive regional sports complex. Home rule campaign fails Douglas County commissioners sought to become a home rule county, but voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposal. The three commissioners argued that home…
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Douglas County judge violated defendant’s right to counsel at sentencing, appeals court finds
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A Douglas County judge violated a defendant’s constitutional right to the counsel of her choice by refusing to postpone sentencing until her lawyer returned to the country, Colorado’s second-highest court concluded on Wednesday. In early 2023, Lyndie J. Felsher received a three-year sentence in community corrections after pleading guilty to a felony drunk driving offense.…
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Parker man found guilty of drugging, sexually assaulting four women he met through dating apps
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A Douglas County jury on Tuesday convicted a Parker man who drugged and sexually assaulted four women he met through dating apps. David Kats, 56, faces anywhere from probation to life in prison on 12 counts of sexual assault and five counts of second-degree assault, according to a 23rd Judicial District news release. In court,…
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Dougco shoplifting ordinance victimizes victims | CALDARA
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Law enforcement must be respected. It also needs to be liked. And, above all, it must be trusted. Citizens should feel welcome to engage with police — not coerced. That balance is what makes American law enforcement different. Douglas County now plans to require retailers who’ve been victimized by shoplifters to report the crime to…
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Douglas County businesses to pay fines for unreported thefts under proposed ordinance
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Douglas County commissioners on Tuesday advanced an ordinance aimed at curbing retail theft by penalizing businesses that refuse to report shoplifters to law enforcement. The proposal is notable in that it shifts the onus of responsibility to businesses. Officials said the ordinance is designed to encourage corporations to adopt policies favoring the reporting of shoplifting…
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The theatrics of land-use in Douglas County | NOONAN
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If anyone thinks a county commission land-use session lacks theatricality, think again. Just drop into a land-use meeting in Douglas County with its current three commissioners. Citizens attending a Nov. 25 Dougco land-use session were treated to the following actions: a woman was tossed out for holding a sign; a state representative was talked over…
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New-look Douglas County school board names returning director as president
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After four new directors swore in earlier than expected, the new-look Douglas County school board met for the first time Tuesday night to elect a new board president and discuss issues addressed by the previous board. Douglas County voters in November elected a group of progressive-leaning directors, flipping the once conservative Douglas County School District…