4 Fort Lupton Press
May 26, 2022
Man sentenced to 96 years for shooting Fort Lupton police officer STAFF REPORT
GREELEY -- The man who shot a Fort Lupton Police Department sergeant two years ago drew a 96-year prison sentence. Weld County District Court Judge Vincente Vigil sentenced 21-year-old Matthew Cotter last week after a jury convicted Cotter of ambushing and trying to kill two Fort Lupton police Cotter officers, Sgt. Christopher Pelton, who was shot in the face, and for shooting at Sgt. Jeremy Sagner. The two were injured during a call about an armed man who was trying to contact someone inside a Fort Lupton home. “I’m very fortunate that this was an attempted-murder case and not a murder case,” Sgt. Pelton said during the sentencing hearing. “The moment that bullet went through my head I wasn’t even there going after the defendant. I was there to protect the scene. If someone was going to get shot that day, I’m glad it was me and not one of my young officers.” According to a news release, both of Sgt. Pelton’s daughters made statements to the court and said they now suffer from fear and anxiety after their father almost died. “The victimization doesn’t stop with me,” Pelton explained. “It affects my whole family.” Sagner also addressed the court PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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during the sentencing hearing. He said the impact from this incident has been felt throughout the department. “It was not an accident,” Sagner said. “He knew what he was doing. I believe Mr. Cotter is where he needs to be. Anything short of him remaining in custody for the maximum time is detrimental to the public.” During his sentencing argument, Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia asked the judge to reflect on the seriousness of the crimes. “How much closer can you get to killing someone?” Pirraglia asked, according to the news release. “The physical pain is one thing. But the mental pain, the anxiety, the stress, the trauma. It’s appalling what Sgt. Pelton and his family now have to live the rest of their lives with.” Pirraglia also read parts of letters from other officers who were at the scene after the shooting. In one letter, a female officer described how horrific the scene was and described that even her wedding ring was stained with blood. Vigil made some remarks before he announced the sentence. “This is really a unique situation,” he said, according to the news release. “While I was not there, I saw the videos. I heard the shots, saw the officer fall, heard just the most horrible gurgle that man omitted. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the gurgle of someone dying. It’s a shock to me that Sgt. Pelton is still alive. “It’s only by luck that I even have sentence discretion here and that I’m not forced to impose a life without parole sentence today. I cannot send a message to the community that I love and have been a part of my whole life that this was acceptable behavior.”
Fort Lupton Police Sgt. Chris Pelton.
COURTESY OF CITY OF FORT LUPTON
Fort Lupton City Council eyes rec center expansion Mayor thinks effort is going too fast BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Fort Lupton City Council approved two parts to a proposal to expand the city’s recreation center during a regular meeting May 17. The first was an eight-member, ad hoc committee to design the expansion. The vote was 6-0. Mayor Zo Stieber abstained for cause. She was participating via Zoom and did not hear the whole presentation. The second was to hire a firm, Perkins & Will, to collect and present expansion information to voters this November. The cost for the contract won’t be more than $28,000, and the vote was 6-1. Voters will decide whether to pay for the expansion. The idea for a new recreation center started with community meetings 20 years ago. At that time, recreation center manager Julie Seedorf Holm said three areas community members wanted did not
become part of the present facility. Two of them were an auxiliary gym and a fitness area. “The community wanted it all, but we couldn’t afford it,” she told council. “Our memberships are increasing, and we love seeing the people come in and use the center. But we are so crowded. There are areas where we are at heavy use.” The plan is to form an eightperson ad hoc committee, including one member from the city’s Culture, Parks, Recreation and Museum Committee, one from the city’s Senior Advisory Committee, two city council members, two city staff members and two members from the general public. Holm said there could be a rec center member survey to gather input on wishes and desires of users. “It’s an issue of timing at this point,” she told council. “We kept going back to the original drawings and the meetings that took place. We took the things that were cut out but left them in place for a future expansion. It depends on the timing and where we can expand.” Mayor Stieber, who cast the lone “no” vote to hiring the outside firm
to present information to voters, had no problem with expanding the recreation center. Her issue was the speed. “We’re trying to do this so quickly,” she said. “It feels like we are rushing to get something done and have it on the ballot this fall. I am not going to be able to support this.” OT money In other business, council approved a $3,200 supplemental budget request for the city’s facilities and grounds departments. The vote was unanimous. Human Resources Director Laura Howe said the money will be overtime pay for employees who have to work outside of normal working hours for issues that require a fast response. “There are special situations that require them to have a quick response,” Howe told council. “They will be paid a two-hour minimum for those situations. It helps pay our employees appropriately for time they spend during their time off.” Howe also told council it would have to approve funds for this use in 2023 and beyond.
