STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903
75cI
VOLUME 119
Issue 6
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10, 2022
CELEBRATING COLLEGE CHOICE
GOP candidates seek to unseat Bennett 8 candidate meet with the community of Fort Lupton BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Family and friends take pictures as Riverdale Ridge High School Senior Molly Lancaster is surrounded by friends and teammates Feb. 3 in the school’s gymnasium. Lancaster, who will be attending Fort Hayes State University in Kansas, was PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR among eight fellow students who signed letters of intent. See more on page 14.
Ex-Adams County deputy convicted in sex-assault case STAFF REPORTS
Sentencing for a former Adams County Sheriff’s Department sergeant is set for 9 a.m. April 7. in connection with a sex-assault conviction. An Adams County jury also returned a guilty verdict of unlawful sexual contact against 34-year-old Michael Benson. The jury made its decision on Jan. 31 after a six-day trial. A press statement from the 17th Judicial District said the victim was working as a civilian employee at the jail. Benson was her supervisor. According to the statement, Benson “spent an unusual amount of time with her at work and that his conduct included dirty jokes,
flirting and inappropriate comments in the workplace.” This happened between February and July 2018. “The victim testified that the defendant became more aggressive, leading to the conduct encompassed by the charges in this case, including touching her intimate parts, forcing her to touch his penis, and ultimately digitally penetrating her,” the statement said. The victim testified that she was desperate to become an Adams County sheriff’s deputy, and she was attempting to enter the academy when these incidents occurred. According to the statement, the victim said she was fearful that speaking out could damage her ability to become an academy cadet.
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Benson lost his job in September 2018. The Commerce City and Brighton Sexual Assault Task Force conducted the criminal investigation. “Mr. Benson used his position of power to force himself upon a subordinate and sexually assault her,” said DA Brian Mason in the statement. “Such a crime is outrageous on its face, but it is particularly reprehensible coming from a sheriff’s deputy. We will not tolerate this behavior. My office will prosecute those who commit these crimes without fear or favor, including when it occurs in jail by a member of law enforcement. I applaud the victim for her courage in coming forward and am grateful to the jury for returning a just verdict.”
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The eight Republican candidates running to take Democrat Michael Bennett’s seat in the U.S, Senate couldn’t agree on whether Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and former Senate President, would get their support. “I think it may be time for a fresh face,” said Denver native Joe O’ Dea at a Feb. 3 candidate forum hosted by the Republican Women of Weld County. Colorado Christian University Professor Greg Moore said he viewed the Kentucky senator differently. “As majority leader, and now as the minority leader, he’s the guy who gets the job done,” Moore said. All eight GOP candidates for Bennett’s seat on the U.S. Senate attended: Eli Bremer, Gino Campana, Deborah Flora, Ron Hanks, Daniel Hendricks, Gregory Moore, Joe O’Dea, and Peter Yu. Hosted by the Republican Women of Weld County, the event was sponsored by Weld Strong and Roche Contractors. The forum was moderated by George Brauchler, the current district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams was in charge of time-keeping. Brauchler challenged the candidates across a broad range of topics, from oil and gas to sending troops to Ukraine, the debate over the elections 1887 Electoral Act, and whether 2020’s presidential was election stolen. The Republican primary is in June and the general election is on Nov. 8. Brauchler asked if the candidates would willingly back Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, noting that the Kentucky senator successfully passed President Trump’s landmark SEE GOP, P7
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