sexual assault
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Former Centennial teacher sentenced to 60 years for sexually assaulting children
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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Parents still waiting for Jeffco counselor plea deal on sexual assault charge
A plea deal has been delayed again for the Jeffco Public Schools counselor who allegedly started a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student. Chloe Castro appeared in a Jefferson County District Court room in front of Judge Diego Hunt on Tuesday afternoon. Her defense attorney, Marshall Breit, noted that Castro would likely take a plea…
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Appeals court finds Jeffco judge imposed lifetime sex offender registration on man without explaining why
Colorado’s second-highest court overturned a Jefferson County judge’s order on Thursday that subjected a defendant to lifetime sex offender registration, after she did not make findings about each of the required factors. David Lamont White pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual assault. At his 2023 plea hearing, the defense and prosecution agreed District…
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Federal judge dismisses claims that Boulder prosecutor ’emboldened’ false testimony
A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a man’s claims that a former Boulder County prosecutor “emboldened” an alleged sexual assault victim to alter her story after the original charge was dismissed for lack of probable cause. The district attorney’s office twice attempted to prosecute Pierce Spinelli for felony sexual assault, his lawsuit alleged. But both…
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Federal judge dismisses bulk of claims against UCCS, employees over instructor’s alleged predatory behavior
A federal judge on Monday dismissed several claims by a former University of Colorado Springs student pertaining to one professor’s alleged sexual misconduct towards her. Kristen Gearhart filed suit in April 2024 against the university, its chancellor, multiple employees and mathematics Prof. Mark Tomforde. She alleged Tomforde had a history of misconduct toward women at…
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Appeals court orders new sex assault trial due to biased juror
Colorado’s second-highest court ordered a new sex assault trial for a defendant on Thursday after concluding a Weld County judge permitted a biased juror to serve. Prosecutors charged Jeremy Black with multiple counts of sexual assault on a child, alleging he abused a girl beginning when she was approximately seven years old. She disclosed the…
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Appeals court finds Denver judge wrongly let child witness testify by CCTV
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that a Denver judge violated the constitutional rights of a juvenile defendant by allowing the victim, who was also a child, to testify in a different room out of concern for the “influence” of the defendant’s parents. However, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals concluded the error…
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Appeals court finds Mesa County judge incorrectly analyzed evidence for second time in sex assault trial
Colorado’s second-highest court concluded last month that a Mesa County judge used the incorrect standard when deciding if a defendant should receive a new trial — even after a prior Court of Appeals decision explicitly ordered the judge to fix his earlier evidence-related mistake. A three-judge appellate panel, by 2-1, believed then-District Court Judge Richard T.…
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Appeals court chastises Denver prosecutor for inappropriate comment on defendant’s right to silence
Colorado’s second-highest court agreed on Thursday that a Denver prosecutor inappropriately commented on a defendant’s constitutional right to silence during a jury trial, but the misconduct did not warrant a new trial in light of the overwhelming evidence of guilt. Byron L. Whitehorn is serving a prison sentence of 24 years to life after jurors…
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10th Circuit dismisses man’s lawsuit against Arvada detective, accuser for rape accusation
The Denver-based federal appeals court agreed last week that a man had not credibly alleged he was prosecuted for rape without probable cause because, in part, he apologized for raping the alleged victim on a recorded phone call. Gary Weidner III sued Detective Kristin Ames and his former romantic partner, identified as “Jane Doe,” after…