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The Week Ahead

April 10th, 2011, 10:32 am by jensslin

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers,

This again will be a busy but abbreviated week for me in the 4^th Judicial District.

On Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Division 16 there’s a preliminary hearing scheduled for Estella Toleafoa. She’s the Colorado Springs woman accused of first-degree murder in the death of her 9-month-old son. Police say the boy died after she left him in a tub of scalding hot water. Here’s my most recent story.

Also on Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Division 9, there’s a preliminary hearing for Linda Bryant. She and her husband are accused of illegally collecting benefits for two foster children they were supposed to be caring for in Monument. Police said the two boys are still missing. Here’s our most recent story.

On Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Division 15, there’s a disposition hearing scheduled for Everett Harrington, who is accused of wounding a woman in a shooting outside a sports bar. Here’s our most recent story on the case.

Also on Wednesday at 9 a.m. there are two other interesting disposition hearings scheduled.

One Division 18 is for Ismael Shelton, who is accused of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a Colorado Springs woman. Here’s my most recent story on the case.

The other hearing in Division 19 is for Chang Yi, the Colorado Springs liquor store owner who is accused of wounding an alleged shoplifter and another man outside of his store. Here’s our most recent story.

On Friday, there are two interesting preliminary hearings scheduled. I’ll be out of town that day but I’m asking my Gazette colleagues for help with coverage.

The first hearing at 9 a.m. in Division 2, is for Robert Hunt, who faces charges in the fatal shooting of another man. Hunt was arrested by the FBI in Atlanta. Not much is known about this case because the affidavit for the arrest warrant was sealed. Here’s our most recent story.

And at 10 a.m. in Division 17, a hearing is scheduled for Detra Farries, the woman accused of manslaughter and vehicular homicide in the dragging death of a Colorado Springs tow truck driver. Here’s our most recent story.

As regular readers of this blog know, court hearings often are postponed and rescheduled. So what you see here may not happen this week.

Do you know of a court story I ought to be covering? Let me know.

My email: john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: assault • leaving the scene of an accident • manslaughter • murder • Uncategorized • welfare fraud • Atlanta • chang yi • detra farries • everett harrington • FBI • foster children • ishmael shelton • linda bryant • liquor store • Monument • robert hunt • shoplifter • tow truck driver | Post a Comment »

The week ahead

April 3rd, 2011, 1:54 pm by jensslin

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers,

This will be a busy but abbreviated week for me in the 4^th Judicial District.

On Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Division 12, a sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dustin Thomas, who was accused of injuring a flag woman during a hit and run accident in July. Here’s a brief story on the charges.

On Tuesday, I’ll be helping out on the Gazette’s election night reporting as voters choose Colorado Spring’s first-ever strong mayor and several city council members. Stay with gazette.com for the best election coverage in town.

On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Division 4, a sentencing hearing is scheduled for 15-year-old Daniel Gudino, whom a jury found guilty of the first-degree attempted murder of his mother at their Colorado Springs home on May 18, 2009.

The jury deadlocked on whether Gudino was guilty in the first-degree murder of his 9-year-old brother. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek a retrial on that charge. Here’s my story on the verdict.

On Thursday at 4:30 p.m., there will be a candle lighting vigil in front of the District Attorney’s office on Vermijo Avenue to mark National Crime Victims Rights Week.

On Friday, I’ll be away attending a Society of Professional Journalists conference in Norfolk, Va. But my Gazette colleagues will be keeping an eye on two hearings.

At 9 a.m., Bruce J. Nozolino is due back in court, presumably with whomever he has hired to defend against charges of killing his ex-wife’s former lover, wounding her divorce lawyer and trying to kill a judge.

At Nozolino’s most recent hearing, Judge William Sylvester ruled that the Colorado Springs anti-tax activist was not entitled to a publically-funded defense attorney. Here’s my most recent story on the case.

Also on Friday at 9 a.m. there’s a continued motions hearing for Hanif Sims and Monique Lynch, the former Monument couple accused in the death of a 9-year-old girl whose body was discovered on May 14, 2010 buried beneath the townhome where they had been living.

Among the motions is a request for a change of venue from Lynch’s public defenders. The two defendants are scheduled to be tried separately with Sim’s trial coming first. Here’s my most recent update on the case.

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

Do you know of an interesting court story? Let me know.

My email is john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: child abuse • leaving the scene of an accident • murder • Uncategorized • bruce nozolino • daniel gudino • dustin thomas • hanif sims • monique lynch • Monument • Norfolk • quenten heard • Society of Professional Journalists • william sylvester | Post a Comment »

The Daily Docket

March 23rd, 2011, 7:31 am by jensslin

Good morning court watchers,

This morning at 9 a.m. I’ll be watching a motions hearing for the couple accused in the death of a girl whose body was discovered buried beneath the crawlspace of a Monument home.

The hearing for Monique Lynch and Hanif Sims is before Fourth Judicial District Judge G. David Miller in Division 16. Public defenders for Lynch have filed a motion to supress evidence.

The two defendants are scheduled to face separate trials later this year.

Stay tuned.

Posted in: child abuse • murder • david miller • hanif sims • monique lynch • Monument | Post a Comment »

The Week Ahead

January 23rd, 2011, 11:14 am by jensslin

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers,

There are several potentially interesting stories on the docket this week. Here are a few that I’ll be watching:

On Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Division 12 there’s a review hearing for three of the four defendants accused in the death of a man whose body was discovered dumped along Rampart Range Road. Here’s a link to my most recent story on the case.

On Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Division 5, testimony resumes in the first-degree murder and sexual assault trial of Fort Carson soldier Robert Hull Marko which enters its third week. I’ll continue live blogging from the trial throughout the week. Here’s my most recent post on the trial.

Also on Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m. in Division 7 there’s a preliminary hearing for a father and son accused of drug possession and conspiracy charges involving methamphetamine. Here’s my most recent story on the case.

On Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Division 17, there’s a motions hearing for a man accused of killing an employee at the Big O Tire store in Monument. Here’s my most recent story.

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

Do you know of an interesting court story? Let me know. My e-mail is john.ensslin@gazette.com

John C. Ensslin

Legal Affairs reporter

The Gazette

Posted in: murder • sex assault • Big O tires • Fort Carson • methamphetamine • Monument • Rampart Range Road • robert marko | Post a Comment »

The week ahead

January 16th, 2011, 2:49 pm by jensslin

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers,

The Fourth Judicial District will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

However, the rest of the week looks fairly busy. Here’s a peek at what’s coming up:

On Tuesday, at 10 a.m. in Division 8, Judge Theresa M. Cisneros is scheduled to sentence Liam Joseph Terry, who was originally charged with child abuse resulting in injury to his 14-month-old daughter. Here’s the story we wrote at the time of his arrest in January 2009.

On Wednesday, at 8:30 a.m. in Division 5, testimony resumes in the rape-murder trial of Fort Carson soldier Robert Hull Marko, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. I’ll be live blogging this trial during the week. Here’s my latest post.

Also on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Denver, Judge Christine M. Arguello is scheduled to sentence a Fort Carson major who has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes while deployed overseas. Roderick D. Sanchez faces between 7 to 9 years in prison, but his attorney has asked the judge to consider a lesser sentence. Here’s my most recent story.

Wednesday is also the deadline for the District Attorney’s office to file charges in the case of a Chang Li, a Colorado Springs liquor store owner who was arrested in December on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder in the Oct. 25 shooting of a shoplifter who had fled the store with a bottle of vodka. Here’s our most recent story on the case.

On Thursday at 2 p.m. in Division 16, there is s a motions hearing for Monique Lynch and Hanif Sims, the couple charged in the death of a 9-year-old girl found buried in the crawl space beneath a home in Monument. Here’s my most recent story.

And finally on Friday, at 8:30 a.m. in Division 20, Robert Hunt makes his first appearance in District Court. Hunt was returned from Atlanta earlier this month to face charges in the fatal shooting of a man on July 30 outside the Cedar Creek Apartments. Here’s our most recent story.

Please bear in mind, court hearings frequently are postponed and rescheduled, so what you see here might not happen.

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

Posted in: bribery • murder • sex assault • Atlanta • cedar creek apartments • chang li • christine arguello • Fort Carson • hanif sims • liam terry • monique lynch • Monument • robert hunt • robert marko • roderick sanchez • teresa cisneros | Post a Comment »

The Week Ahead

December 12th, 2010, 9:22 am by jensslin

Zeb Pike, court watcher

Hello court watchers.

Here’s a peek at the week ahead in the 4^th 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 • El Ranchito • Monument • parole • richard riley • Terri Thomas • thomas woolly • william seymour | Post a Comment »

Scenes from the Sims/Lynch hearing

October 29th, 2010, 5:27 pm by jensslin

A detective testified there were other allegations of Genesis Sims being abused before the 9-year-old was buried beneath a house in Monument.

During Friday’s preliminary hearing for Hanif Sims and Monique Lynch, El Paso County Sheriff’s investigator Ralph Losasso described an interview he did in Los Angeles with Davon Lynch, Monique’s son. At the time, detectives were still searching for Sims and Lynch.

Losasso said the son told him that Sims and Lynch would make Genesis stand in a corner or stay in her room for hours. They would make her stand outside in the cold. The father would pick the girl up by the neck, hold her at eye level and drop her.

The detective said Davon Lynch also was able to identify the plaid nylon bag that contained Genesis Sims body. It was the family’s laundry bag.

Table that ruling

The day-long hearing began with a discussion of courtroom furniture. Lynch and her two public defenders had one table. Prosecutors had another.

That left Sims and his court-appointed attorney Matthew Werner sitting in the jury box, unable to spread out his papers and laptop computer like the other lawyers.

When Werner objected to not having a table, Judge G. David Miller replied, “somebody has to be and I’m afraid that’s you.”

Miller, however, reconsidered and a third table was cleared off for Werner and Sims.

Keep it moving

The slow pace of the hearing during the morning prompted Miller to advise the defense lawyers to stick to the purpose of a preliminary hearing: to determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to show probable cause.

“Let the DA put on the case and if they can’t put on the case, they lose,” Miller said just before the lunch break. “My good will on questions beyond the scope (of the hearing) is in peril right now.”

Things went a lot more quickly in the afternoon.

Posted in: Uncategorized • david miller • davon lynch • genesis sims • hanif sims • matthew werner • monique lynch • Monument | Post a Comment »

Suspects in buried child’s murder blame each other

October 29th, 2010, 12:43 pm by jensslin

Monique Lynch (left) and Hanif Sims (right)

Investigators conceded today they have no physical evidence to determine who killed Genesis Sims before burying the 9-year-old girl’s body in the muddy crawlspace beneath a Monument home.

But they do have the statements of the two suspects in the murder, each of whom have implicated the other.

A preliminary hearing is underway today to determine if prosecutors have enough evidence to try Monique Lynch and the girl’s father Hanif Sims in her death. Lynch is accused of first-degree murder. Sims is charged with second-degree murder.

Genesis’ body was discovered on May 14, 2010 by two handymen who were digging a pit for a sump pump that afternoon in the dimly-lit crawlspace beneath a duplex at 764 Century Place, unit A.

One of the handymen testified this morning that they found the body in a triple-ply plastic and burlap bag buried about two and a half feet deep in the wet sandy soil.

The body was in a fetal position, said El Paso County Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Jaworski, who oversaw the investigation. He said an autopsy was inconclusive as to the cause of death, but that it was a homicide.

Under cross examination, Sims’ attorney Matthew Werner asked Jaworski if “the only evidence you have that Sims’ hand caused the injury is from Mrs. Lynch?”

“At this point,” Jaworski replied.

Detectives interviewed both suspects after catching up with them in Henderson, Nevada. They had left Monument in early 2008 and lived for a time in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles.

In the Nevada interview and a subsequent one in Colorado Springs, Sims told investigators his daughter had died sometime between his birthday on Sept. 9, 2008 and Dec. 25, 2008.

Sims claimed he came home from getting cigarettes and heard Lynch yelling at his daughter. When he next saw Genesis, she was on her back, unresponsive and turning blue.

Sims claimed that after trying to resuscitate her, he suggested calling 911. But Lynch talked him out of it, he said. Sims said Lynch – who was five months pregnant at the time – reminded him that she had an outstanding arrest warrant in New Jersey and said she didn’t trust Monument police.

Jaworski also testified that while investigators were searching for the couple, he interviewed Hanif Sim’s aunt Nicky in New Jersey. He said she told him of seeing bruises on Genesis and provided him a photograph she had taken of the injuries in July 2003.

Under questioning by Lynch’s Deputy Public Defender Cindy Hyatt, Jaworski acknowledged that occurred before Lynch and Sims became a couple.

Testimony is continuing this afternoon. Stay tuned to “The Sidebar” blog and gazette.com for details.

Posted in: Uncategorized • cindy hyatt • hanif sims • matthew werner • monique lynch • Monument • murder • nicky sims • robert jaworski | Post a Comment »

Worker describes dead girl’s body

October 29th, 2010, 10:08 am by jensslin

A handyman testified today how he and his partner made a grim discovery of a buried child while working in a crawl space beneath a Monument home.

Mark Michael had been trying to dig a new pit for a sump pump in the muddy dimly-lit space beneath the duplex apartment at 764 Century Place Unit A on May 14, 2010.

Michael was the first witness as a preliminary hearing underway for Monique Lynch and Hanif Sims. They have been charged in the death of 9-year-old Genesis Sims.

While digging through the wet sandy soil, Michael said he came across a black plastic bag buried about 2 and half-feet below the surface. When he felt the bag with his fingers, he realized it might be a body.

After his co-worker cut open the triple-ply bag, Michael said he saw an elbow and eyelashes. At that point, the two men crawled out of the space and notified the homeowner and police.

Lynch is accused of first-degree murder. Sims is charged with child abuse resulting in the death of his daughter plus concealing a body and tampering with evidence.

Testimony is continuing before Fourth Judicial Judge G. David Miller. Stay tuned to “The Sidebar” blog and gazette.com for details.

Posted in: Uncategorized • genesis sims • hanif sims • monique lynch • Monument • murder | Post a Comment »

Hearing underway in Big O shooting

October 1st, 2010, 3:02 pm by jensslin

Logan Scott McClelland

A teenage accused of killing a Big O tire store employee in Monument told detectives that his father had trained him to “shoot to kill” if he ever had to defend himself.

That testimony came today during a preliminary hearing for Logan Scott McClelland.

McClelland, 19, of Como is accused of first-degree murder in the Aug. 9 shooting of Bradley Blehm in the parking lot outside the tire store at 650 Highway 105.

While being transported from the crime scene by two detectives, McClelland began telling them he shot Blehm in self-defense after the employee became abusive and hit his father, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of his car, Detective Ralph Losasso testified.

The son described how his father told him to “whip out the pistol,” so he took it out of a back pack.

When Blehm came around the vehicle to the driver’s side, the son said he got out of the car and shot him “until he fell.”

Losasso said McClelland told the detectives that “his father had trained him in self-defense and told him if something like this ever happened to shoot to kill.”

Here’s a link to an earlier story on the shooting.

Testimony in the hearing is continuing this afternoon. Stay tuned to gazette.com for details.

Posted in: Uncategorized • Big O tires • bradley blehm • logan mcclelland • Monument • murder | Post a Comment »

Archive for the 'Monument' Tag

The Week Ahead

The week ahead

The Daily Docket

The Week Ahead

The week ahead

The Week Ahead

Scenes from the Sims/Lynch hearing

Suspects in buried child’s murder blame each other

Worker describes dead girl’s body

Hearing underway in Big O shooting

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