What an amazing year it’s been in terms of court stories. I had a hard time whittling this list down to ten and as you’ll see, I’ve included five more that you could argue should be on this list.

I’m interested in what you think ought to be on a list of the top 10 court stories of the year. So at the bottom of this list you’ll find a poll where you can cast your own vote. Balloting will remain open through Dec. 31.

Also, if I’ve overlooked a story, let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com.

John C. Ensslin

Legal affairs reporter

The Gazette

1.  The Nozolino indictment

     A grand jury indicted anti-tax activist Bruce J. Nozolino on charges of killing a Stetson Hills man as well as trying to kill a judge and a divorce lawyer. Nozolino also has been charged with tampering with grand jury witnesses and punching an inmate in the El Paso County Jail.

Here’s a link to the story:

2.   Gudino tried as juvenile

A judge ruled that a 14-year-old boy accused of killing his younger brother and wounding their mom should be tried as a juvenile. Daniel Gudino’s attorneys argued that the boy suffered from a mental illness and may have been sleep walking when the shootings occurred. The trial is set for Feb. 7.

Here’s my story.

 3.    The Allmon verdict

A jury convicted Willie B. Allmon of raping and fatally beating his 8-month-old grandson while babysitting the boy in the grandfather’s Widefield home. Allmon, a 52-year-old registered sex offender, is now serving life in prison.

Here’s my story from the sentencing hearing.

4.    Hazard killing

Prosecutors charged a 16-year-old girl with killing Jon R. Hazard, who had been accused of sexually assaulting her. After nearly a year of negotiations and evaluation, the girl was sentenced to 2 years probation after she pleaded guilty in juvenile court to a charge of manslaughter.

Here’s my story:

5.     The Volmar verdict

Former U.S. Olympic Judo team athlete Adler Volmar won acquittal on charges that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in his Colorado Springs hotel room after she had been drinking at a downtown nightclub. The jury, however, found Volmar guilty of two misdemeanor sex offenses.

Here’s a link to the story.

6.    Cuneo verdict

A jury found Jules Lynn Cuneo guilty of manslaughter in the beating death of her two-year-old foster child but acquitted her of first-degree murder charges. A judge sentenced Cuneo to 32 years in prison. Here’s our story on the sentencing.

7. Murder in Monument

A couple was charged in the child abuse death of a 9-year-old girl whose body was discovered buried in the muddy crawl space beneath a town home. A judge has ordered Hanif Sims and Monique Lynch to stand trial in the case.

Here’s my story on their preliminary hearing:

8.   The Xbox murder verdicts

Separate juries found two men guilty in the murder of a developmentally disabled man whose body was discovered months later in North Cheyenne Canon. Both Derek Lee Hernandez and Kyle Stott were sentenced to life in prison for what the judge called “murder for sport.” There was testimony at both trials that the pair had stolen the victim’s Xbox video game system.

Here’s my story on the second verdict.

 9.   Neo-Nazi trial

The first-degree murder trial of Kandin Eric Wilson, an alleged Neo-Nazi recruit, opened a window onto the inner workings of The American Nazi Party. A jury found Wilson guilty in the murder of a Colorado Springs restaurant manager during a bungled robbery attempt. He was sentenced to serve life in prison.

Here’s my story on the sentencing.

10. Judge tosses wiretap evidence

Fourth Judicial District Judge Deborah Grohs barred evidence gathered in a drug case via wiretaps because the order authorizing the surveillance was signed by Chief Judge Kirk Samelson, who at the time, had a son working as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office. A defense lawyer called this a conflict and the judge agreed. The DA has appealed her decision to the Colorado Supreme Court. That ruling is pending.

Here’s my story on the ruling.

Other possibilities:

The Big O murder

A Como teenager was ordered to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an employee at the Big O tire store in Monument. But during a preliminary hearing, police testified that the victim in the case had been sent home for drinking on the job moments before the shooting.

Here’s my story on the hearing.

The homeless murder trial

The trial of a man accused of beating a homeless man to death took two attempts (the first ended in a mistrial.) But eventually, a jury found Taylor Lane Gwaltney guilty of first-degree murder for bashing in the head of a man who had been sleeping on an overpass above Interstate 25. Gwaltney is now serving a life sentence.

Here’s my story on the sentencing.

Parole officer acquittal

A jury found Richard L. Riley not guilty of sexually assaulting a female parole who he was supervising. The jurors said they had problems with the credibility of the accuser, who had two prior convictions for false reporting.

Here’s my story on the verdict. 

Ex-soldier convicted in fatal shooting

A jury convicted former Army gunner Thomas Woolly of criminal negligent homicide in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Colorado Springs woman. But the jurors acquitted Woolly of the more serious charge of reckless manslaughter. His defense lawyer objected to the lesser charge being added on the eve of the verdict.

Here’s my story on the verdict.

Ex-detective pleads insanity

Former El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerald Day pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges stemming from a standoff he had with law enforcement officers in Douglas County. Day was hired back as a civilian employee at the county jail while he awaits trial.

Here’s my story on his plea.