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The Week Ahead

April 24th, 2011, 9:52 am by

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers,

This will be a busy week in the 4th Judicial District and it will be my last as the Gazette’s Legal Affairs reporter.

I’ve taken a job with The Record in northern New Jersey, which is near where I grew up and where my family lives.

While I’m excited at this new opportunity, I’m a bit wistful about leaving a beat that has been so much fun to cover these last two years.

I’ve really enjoyed providing full-time court coverage. And I’m grateful to the judges, lawyers and court staff who have been so patient while explaining to me how the judicial system works.

The good news is my replacement is Lance Benzel, an excellent Gazette reporter who has covered the crime beat plus military affairs. I’ll be taking him around the courthouse this week, so be sure to say hello.

Here’s what we’ll be watching this week.

On Monday at 9 a.m. in Division 12, the jury resumes deliberations in the trial of a former Olympic wrestler accused of sexually assaulting a female wrestler in her dorm room at the Olympic Training Center. Here’s my most recent story.

On Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Division 5, the first-degree murder trial of Martin Mendiola resumes. He’s accused of raping and killing a Colorado Springs woman in January 2004. As time allows, I’ll be live blogging this trial, which is expected to conclude later this week. Here’s my most recent story.

Friday will be a busy day, starting with a sentencing hearing at 9 a.m. in Division 7 for a man who pleaded guilty to shooting another man during a gang clash. Here’s my most recent story.

Then at 10 a.m. in Division 17, there’s a bond hearing for Detra Farries, the woman accused of dragging a Colorado Springs tow truck driver to his death. Here’s our most recent story.

And finally, at 1:30 p.m. in Division 19 there is a plea hearing for Cynthia Balestier. She is one of three people arrested in the shooting death of the father of the owner of El Ranchito during a April 25, 2010 robbery. Here’s one of our earlier stories on the case.

Bear in mind, court hearings frequently are postponed and rescheduled, so what you see here may not happen.

Do you know of a court story we ought to be covering? If so, let me know.

My e-mail is john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: leaving the scene of an accident • manslaughter • murder • sex assault • Uncategorized • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

The Week Ahead

December 12th, 2010, 9:22 am by

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers.

Here’s a peek at the week ahead in the 4th Judicial District.

Two trials are expected to wrap up this week.

Jury deliberations resume Monday morning in the sexual assault trial of Richard L. Riley, the former parole officer accused of having sex with a female parolee.

Here’s my most recent story.  

On Tuesday, testimony is expected to conclude in the manslaughter trial of Thomas Woolly, the former soldier accused in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Colorado Springs woman. Here’s my most recent story.  

On Wednesday, there’s a plea hearing scheduled for Terri Thomas, the veteran court employee accused of identity theft. Here’s my most recent post.

On Thursday, there are hearings for two suspects in the fatal shooting of a 62-year-old man outside El Ranchito restaurant. Here’s our most recent story.

On Friday, an arraignment is scheduled for the couple charged in the death of a 9-year-old girl found buried beneath a Monument home. Here’s my most recent story on the case.  

Also on Monday, be sure to check out my story in the Gazette on efforts to repair a statue of William Seymour, the first African-American juror in El Paso County. A suspected drunk driver allegedly rammed the statue in July.

Please keep in mind my usual caveat: cases on the docket do not always happen as scheduled. So what you see here may be postponed.

Do you know of a court story I ought to be covering? Let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: identity theft • manslaughter • murder • sex assault • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

The week ahead

November 14th, 2010, 4:33 pm by

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers,

Here’s a peek at the week ahead in the Fourth Judicial District.

On Monday, there’s a plea and sentencing hearing scheduled for Terri Thomas, a veteran court employee who is charged with identity theft. Here’s my earlier story on the case.  

On Wednesday, a preliminary hearing continues for Miguel Marin and Cynthia Balestier, who are accused of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a man outside El Ranchito restaurant. This is a continuation of a hearing that began last week. Here’s an earlier story on the case.

Also on Wednesday, there’s a preliminary hearing scheduled for Emilio Ruiz, who is accused in the fatal stabbing of his roommate. Here’s an earlier story on the case.  

Thursday will be a busy day. First, there’s a disposition hearing scheduled for Todd McKeel, who is accused of kidnapping and assaulting his former girlfriend. I wrote this story after the Supreme Court sent the case back for a jury trial.

Next, there’s a sentencing hearing for Evelyn Solano, a former bank manager accused of taking part in the robbery of her own bank. Here’s a story about her arrest.  

Also on Thursday, there’s a preliminary hearing scheduled for John P. Winkler, who was arrested on suspected parole violations. Winkler allegedly threatened officers after his son jumped out of an unmarked patrol car and was killed in traffic. Here’s our earlier story on the case.

Please bear in mind that court hearings often are postponed and delayed. So what you see here may not happen.

If you know of a court story not listed here that I ought to be covering, let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: Uncategorized • • • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

The week ahead

November 7th, 2010, 9:56 am by

Zeb Pike, court watcher

 

Hello court watchers,

Here’s what’s happening in the 4th Judicial District this week:

On Monday, the first-degree murder trial of Willie B. Allmon resumes with the ninth day of testimony. Here’s my most recent story on the trial.

On Tuesday, there’s a preliminary hearing for Tnias Pike, the third suspect charged in a February 2008 double homicide at the Whitney Young Manor apartments. The hearing is scheduled to run two days. Here’s my most recent post on the case.

On Thursday, the courts are closed in observance of Veteran’s Day.

On Friday, there’s a preliminary hearing for Cynthia Balestier and Miguel Marin, two suspects in the shooting of a man outside El Ranchito, an east side market and tacqueria. Here’s our more recent story on the case.

Also on Friday, there’s a sentencing hearing for Clifford Huery, who pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of a neighbor. Here’s my most recent story on the case.

Keep in mind that hearings often are postponed and delayed. So what you see here may not happen.

Do you know of an interesting case not listed here? Let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: Uncategorized • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »