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The Week Ahead

February 13th, 2011, 11:22 am by

Zeb Pike, court watcher

 

On Monday at 9 a.m., the trial of a 15-year-old boy accused of killing his younger brother and wounding their mom, enters its second week in Division 4. Here’s a link to my most recent story on the case.

Also on Monday at 8:30 a.m., the trial of Thomas Freeman Bagley III is scheduled to begin in Division 22.

 Bagley is accused of wounding a man by shooting him in the stomach at the Kitty Hawk Apartments. Here’s our most recent story on the case.

On Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Division 7, there’s a hearing scheduled for Adan Viveros who pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder in a possible gang-related shooting. Here’s my most recent story on the case.

On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Division 15, there’s a hearing scheduled for Jordan Liken. Colorado Springs police arrested Liken and a doctor on suspicion of illegally growing 83 marijuana plants. Charges against the doctor were later dismissed. Here’s my most recent story about the case.

And on Friday at 9 a.m. in Division 5, there’s a motions hearing scheduled for Martin S. Mendiola, the ex-convict accused of killing a Colorado Springs woman in 2004. Here’s my most recent post about the case.

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

Do you know of a court case I ought to be covering? If so, let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: assault • drug possession • murder • Uncategorized • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

The week ahead

December 19th, 2010, 10:48 am by

Zeb Pike, court watcher

 

Hello court watchers,

This will be an abbreviated week with the Christmas holiday ahead.

But there are a few cases of interest scheduled for the early part of the week.

First, a jury will resume deliberations in the trial of a civil lawsuit that an El Paso County couple filed against the Ford Motor Company alleging that an accelerator defect caused the woman to crash into a neighbor’s yard.

Lawyers for Ford say the woman stepped on the gas pedal by mistake. Here’s my story on the closing arguments.

Also in Bergen County N.J., a jury is deliberating following a 12-week trial of a Colorado Springs man accused of arranging the murder of his father in a restaurant parking lot.

 We’ve been running stories on the trial by my counterpart for the Bergen Record, so watch for a story on the verdict this week. Here’s the Record’s most recent story.

On Monday morning, five defendants arrested in connection with an alleged marijuana growing operation are due in court for a disposition hearing.

On Monday afternoon, there’s a hearing scheduled for JoBeth Bomsta, who has been charged as an accessory in the murder of a man whose body was discovered along Rampart Range Road in June. Here’s my story on the preliminary hearing.

On Tuesday, there’s a motions hearing for Robert Hull Marko, a soldier accused of sexually assaulting one woman and killing another. Marko’s trial is set to begin on Jan. 10. Here’s my story on his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.  

Later this week, watch for a story on a long-running program where first-time, non-violent offenders in the District Attorney’s diversion program help fund an event in which under privileged youngster receive gifts and bicycles for Christmas.

Also this week watch for my list of the top 10 court stories for 2010 plus pick your own top 10 list.

Bear in mind that court hearings are often postponed or delayed. So what you see here may not happen.

If you know of an interesting court story that I ought to be covering, let me know. My e-mail:  john.ensslin@gazette.com

Til then,

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

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DA drops pot case against doctor

November 8th, 2010, 11:11 am by

Kristine Hembre

 

Prosecutors have declined to file charges against a Colorado Springs doctor whom police arrested last month in connection with 83 marijuana plants.

At a court hearing on Thursday, the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office dismissed the case against Kristine Hembre.

The case against a co-defendant Jordan Liken is continuing. He has a disposition hearing set for Dec. 1.

They were arrested on suspicion of growing marijuana following an Oct. 13 search of a home in the 1600 block of Mesa Road.

Watch for more details later today at Gazette.com

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The Daily Docket

October 20th, 2010, 8:07 am by
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Know of a court story I ought to be covering? Let me know. My e-mail is john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs Reporter

The Gazette

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The Daily Docket

October 18th, 2010, 10:09 am by
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Know of a court story I ought to be covering? Let me know. My e-mail: jensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs Reporter

The Gazette

The

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The Daily Docket

October 12th, 2010, 9:45 am by
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Know of a court story I ought be covering? Let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com

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The Daily Docket

September 16th, 2010, 8:27 am by
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UPDATE: The preliminary hearing I mentioned has been postponed to Oct. 14.

Know of a court case I should be covering? Let me know. My e-mail: john.ensslin@gazette.com

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Hearing resumes in B Street homicide

June 14th, 2010, 9:56 am by

Good morning court watchers.

This morning a preliminary hearing is underway for two suspects accused in the shooting death of a former Fort Carson soldier.

Carlos Michael Olguin, 18, and his cousin Damian Uriah Gradeless, 17, have been charged in the April 23 homicide of Joshua Fields in the 1800 block of B Street.

Fields, 25, died of a gun shot wound to the left chest, according to previous testimony. He had been discharged from the Army in March. A police affidavit stated the two teens met Fields to buy marijuana when a fight started and gunfire erupted.

This morning, an eyewitness testified about being in a car with the victim and the two suspects moments before the shooting occurred.

Nicole Sanchez said she was sitting in the front passenger set next to Fields, who was driving. She referred to him as “J” and described him as someone who sometimes sold her methamphetamine.

Sanchez said Olguin was sitting directly behind Fields and Gradeless was sitting behind her, wearing a hoodie with the hood up.

 She said something didn’t feel right about the situation. Then suddenly Olguin said “Stop the (expletive deleted) car and reached around Field’s neck with his left hand.

Sanchez said she fled the car at that point. A few seconds later, she heard two shots.

Testimony is continuing. An El Paso County sheriff’s investigator who questioned Sanchez is on the witness stand.

This is the third installment of a hearing that began last month.

Stay tuned to the Sidebar for more details.

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B Street homicide hearing, part 2

June 4th, 2010, 9:10 am by

A preliminary hearing in the murder of a former Fort Carson soldier has been continued for the second time.

Testimony had resumed this morning in the case against Carlos Michael Olguin and Damian Uriah Gradeless.

They are accused in the April 23 shooting of Joshua Fields, who was found shot to death in the 1800 block of B Street near an apartment complex. Previous testimony indicated the suspects had gone out to obtain marijuana that night when a fight broke out and the shooting occurred.

The lone witness this morning was Dr. Ruth Kohlmeier of the El Paso County Coroner’s office, who performed the autopsy on Fields.

She said he died of a gunshot wound to the left chest that fractured a rib and caused extensive bleeding. He also had bruises near his left ear and eyebrow and a stab wound on his left arm.

Toxicology tests showed traces of methamphetamine, marijuana, caffeine and nicotine in his body, Kohlmeier said.

Kohlmeier had a snappy reply when a defense attorney asked her what she knew about the circumstances of the shooting when she ruled the case a homicide.

“You’re not determining whether it’s justifiable homicide?” attorney Josh Tolini asked.

“No, that’s your business,” Kohlmeier replied.

Judge Theresa M. Cisneros scheduled the third installment of the preliminary hearing for June 14.

Here’s a link to our most recent story on the shooting:

http://www.gazette.com/news/year-97902-old-shooting.html

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Hearing underway in murder of ex-Fort Carson soldier

May 28th, 2010, 9:50 am by
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UPDATE: This hearing has been continued to June 4.

Here’s our most recent story on this case:

http://www.gazette.com/news/year-97902-old-shooting.html

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