Sentinel Lakewood
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 90, Issue 4
CONSTRUCTION COMMENCES
September 5, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlakewoodnews.com
Three supplied alcohol to minors
Adults sentenced for contribution to fatal crash By Clarke Reader
creader@ourcoloradonews.com
Construction is underway at the Lakewood city center. Work is expected to continue at least until November, weather permitting, or until spring of 2014. Photo by Clarke Reader
Feds provide clarity on fuzzy pot position By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com The federal government finally provided clarity on Colorado’s marijuana laws on Aug. 29, with the Department of Justice issuing guidance saying that prosecutors will not seek to block recreational pot use and sales here — so long as the newly-created industry abides by state regulations. However, the memo does spell out priority cases involving serious marijuana-related offenses that federal prosecutors will continue to investigate, regardless of state laws. And it maintains that marijuana possession, cultivation and distribution of the drug will remain a federal crime. Still, the memo makes it clear that federal prosecutors won’t be beating down doors of most recreational pot users in Colorado any time soon. The clarity provided by Attorney General Eric Holder’s office has been a long-timecoming for many around the state, who have sought guidance from the feds ever since Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 last year — the ballot measure that legalized recreational pot use and sales. “This is a good thing,” said state Sen. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge. Jahn played an instrumental role in crafting regulations associated with Amendment 64 during this year’s legislative session. “It’s not a matter
of this being something that was statuatorial. This was citizen-driven and put into the (state) Constitution. How do you not respect that?” The AG’s Office memo reiterates that “the federal government has traditionally relied on states and local law enforcement agencies to address marijuana activity through enforcement of their own narcotics laws.” The memo also says that the federal government has left “lower-level or localized (marijuana) activity to state and local authorities (to deal with).” But the guidance from the justice department makes it clear that federal prosecutors will continue to make marijuana enforcement determinations, depending on the seriousness of the case. The department laid out eight “enforcement priorities” where the feds will continue to devote resources, “regardless of state law.” They include cases where drug moneys go to gangs or cartels and cases involving drug trafficking. The feds also make it clear that they do not want marijuana being distributed to minors. The guidance memo says it’s up to the states that legalize the drug to ensure that there are strong enforcement laws. “The Department’s guidance in this memorandum rests on its expectation that states and local governments that have enacted laws authorizing marijuana-related
conduct will implement strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems that will address the threat those state laws could pose to public safety, public health and other law enforcement interests.” Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, who was the chairman of the legislative select committee that drafted Amendment 64 legislation this year, said that’s exactly what the Legislature accomplished. “We drafted the most robust marijuana regulations in the country because public safety is our top priority,” Pabon said through a statement. “The feds’ action validates all our hard work to protect public safety, comply with the will of the people of Colorado and keep marijuana out of the hands of kids and criminals.” Gov. John Hickenlooper also issued a statement, thanking the federal government for providing clarity on this issue. “We recognize how difficult this issue has been for the Department of Justice, and we appreciate the thoughtful approach it has taken,” Hickenlooper said. “Amendment 64 put Colorado in conflict with federal law. Today’s announcement shows the federal government is respecting the will of Colorado voters.” The memo also will have an impact on the state of Washington, which will join Colorado in allowing retail pot sales beginning next year.
The third adult of a trio who provided alcohol to minors that lead to a fatal car crash was sentenced in Jefferson County Court on Aug. 28. Julius Suarez, 26, was sentenced to five years probation, 60 days in jail and 120 hours community service. In July a Jefferson County jury found Suarez guilty of providing alcohol to a minor, but acquitted him of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Blan Tisha Marie Blan, 21, and Jerry Gilbert Sanchez, 18, were also charged in the case. Blan was convicted by a jury of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing alcohol to a minor in October 2012. She Sanchez was sentenced on Nov. 15, 2012 to three years probation, with six months in the jail work release program, and 80 hours of community service, according to information provided by District Attorney Peter Weir’s office. Sanchez pleaded guilty Suarez to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing alcohol to a minor on June 4, 2012. He was granted two years in the Adult Diversion Program, 60 days jail and 100 hours of community service. On Nov. 5, 2011, at a party at the home of Sanchez, 6615 W. 13th Ave., Lakewood, several underage teens were drinking alcohol which had been purchased for them by Suarez and Blan. Throughout the evening alcohol was consumed by many young people who were at the party. Some time after midnight, three of the teens left in a car which was driven by Tyler Lovell, 18. Lovell had been drinking at the party. He caused a fatal one-car accident in Wheat Ridge which resulted in his death and also caused the death of Rain Marie Walsh, 17. Andre Lang, 21, and Steve Miskimon, 21, both of Lakewood, were traveling in the back seat of the car, and suffered extreme injuries.
Jefferson County school board race takes shape Staff Report
Three of the five Jefferson County Board of Education directors will not seek reelection this fall, and there will be six candidates looking to replace them. Neither District 1 director Laura Boggs nor Paula Noonan of District 5 submitted their required candidacy paperwork by the Aug. 30 deadline, according to the board’s administrative assistant, Helen Neal. Robin Johnson, a District 1 incumbent, resigned before the filing deadline, after she had moved away from the district.
Johnson’s seat will be an open one, even though “a handful” of people have applied to fill the current vacancy, Neal said. That’s because the applicants who applied to be appointed to Johnson’s seat did not also submit the paperwork that is required from all candidates to be considered for the ballot. This means that whomever the board chooses to replace Johnson will only be a temporary seat holder, until the November election. The board has until Oct. 10 to pick Johnson’s replacement. Neal said that six candidates each sub-
mitted the 50 signatures of registered Jefferson County voters needed to appear on the fall ballot. There are two candidates in each district race: Candidates in District 1, which covers the north area of the county, include Tonya Aultman-Bettridge and Julie Marie Williams, both of Westminster. Candidates in District 2, which is a west central and mountain district, include Jeff Lamontagne of Lakewood and John Newkirk of Conifer. And the two candidates in District 5,
which covers the south Jefferson County district, are Gordon “Spud” Van de Water and Ken Witt, both of Littleton. Nine candidate public forums will be held across the county, beginning Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakewood’s Green Mountain High School.
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