teller county
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Competency concerns arise again for arson suspect in Teller County fire
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After already being deemed competent to proceed to trial once earlier, competency concerns again took the spotlight Monday for the woman allegedly behind the Highland Lakes fire that burned nearly 170 acres near Divide last year. Lowa Tillitt, 77, also referred to as Lacey Tillitt in public records, was arrested Jan. 16 for allegedly starting…
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Judge sides with Florissant fire district in ex-chief’s First Amendment lawsuit
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A federal judge ruled on Friday that the former chief of the Florissant Fire Protection District could not prevail on the claim that his 2023 firing was retaliation for his First Amendment-protected activity. Erik Holt alleged the Teller County district’s directors terminated him because he cooperated with an investigation into potential election fraud during the…
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Colorado justices say child welfare workers not required to give Miranda warning before interrogating parents
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that child welfare workers are not required to give a Miranda warning to parents before interrogating them in custody, even if the interview or the notes will later be shared with prosecutors and used against the parent at trial. Miranda warnings, named after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court…
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Colorado Supreme Court wary of requiring child welfare workers to give Miranda warnings prior to interrogations
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Members of the Colorado Supreme Court seemed hesitant on Wednesday to endorse the idea that child welfare workers must provide a Miranda warning before interrogating a parent in custody, even if the conversation will later be used in a criminal prosecution. The state’s Court of Appeals previously upheld the murder convictions of two men, both…
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Federal judge sides with Teller County sheriff in whistleblower lawsuit
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A federal judge concluded last month that a whistleblower lawsuit could not succeed against Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, nor could the related claims of retaliation lodged by a former commander in the office. Ronald “Greg” Couch worked for the sheriff’s office between 2014 and 2021. In his telling, his relationship with Mikesell began to…
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Teller County deputies cannot carry out immigration duties contrary to state law, appeals court rules
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Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Wednesday that the Teller County sheriff cannot rely on an agreement with the federal government to authorize his deputies to perform immigration duties state law prohibits — specifically, the continued detention of noncitizens beyond their release from custody. In 2019, the state legislature enacted a law forbidding local law enforcement…
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In reelection bid, Teller County commissioner vows to complete what he helped start
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Among promises to finish what he helped start during his first term in office, Teller County Commissioner Erik Stone also vowed to preserve the county’s way of life when he is reelected this year to another four years in office. “We must protect the quality of life and the (lifestyle) that people moved here to…
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Teller County commissioner seeks reelection, promising to fight for local control and focus on ‘smart’ growth
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Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams is running for reelection this year, promising to continue advocating at the state level for more local control and to use his past experience as the county planning director to help manage growth. “It’s about public service,” Williams said of his desire to run for a second term representing Teller…
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El Paso and Teller counties to see $66 million in grants to address opioid epidemic
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El Paso and Teller counties are expected to receive $66 million through 2038 to address the opioid epidemic, a scourge that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives nationally. A regional council awarded the first round of that funding, about $3.8 million, in April. The council left about $1.1 million in reserve to fund additional…
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Colorado Supreme Court to review safeguards against interrogations by child welfare workers
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The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will review two murder cases implicating a question the court has never answered: When a child welfare worker questions a suspect in custody, must they provide a Miranda warning first? At least three of the court’s seven members need to consent to hear a case on…
