Wheat Ridge Transcript 0108

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January 8, 2015 VOLU M E 31 | I SS UE 28 | 5 0 ¢

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Election results, correction facility mark the year Highlights of 2014 in Jeffco

“It was a bit surprising,” Sandstrom said. “I am happy the voters are choosing my experience and my qualifications.”

Jefferson County saw old problems repaired, new faces move into leadership, and some criminally surprising action in 2014 Jeffco Open Space continued its focus on flood recovery efforts to fix the damage done in 2013. With the help of dedicated volunteers who have pitched in with trail repairs, majority of the work has been completed, reported David Davenport, outdoor recreation management coordinator for Jeffco Open Space. Jeffco Open Space requested $375,000 from FEMA last year. In early October of this year, the nearly 50-page environmental assessment was approved, and trail specialists can now move ahead on repair work for Mustang Trail, Mesa Top and Wranglers. Apex park is now open and the re-routing of Pick ‘n Sledge is being pushed until Spring 2015, but trail specialists said nothing is planned but getting trails open. Christopher Sullivan, 37, the armed carjacking suspect who went on a crime spree around Lookout Mountain over the summer made headlines and acquired a slew of charges includ-

Jeffco Elder Abuse Units assists with new bill

Sheriff Jeff Shrader ran a successful campaign for more than a year which paid off by capturing 72 percent of the votes on election night. Photo by Amy Woodward ing child sex trafficking. His trials are set sometime in early 2015. At the time of his preliminary hearing for his incidents on Lookout Mountain, Sullivan faced 48 criminal counts. After his capture on Interstate 70 by Jeffco Deputy Sheriff Fred Haggett, Sullivan’s cash bond was set at $1 million.

New Jeffco sheriff

POSTAL ADDRESS

WHEAT RIDGE TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 1089-9197)

OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Wheat Ridge Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Wheat Ridge Transcript 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m.

After 10 years as Jefferson County Sheriff, Ted Mink exited as sheriff and was replaced by a new face and astute insider Jeff Shrader. The term-limited Mink, will leave the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office after leading its departments and deputies for 11 years. During the Republican primaries, Shrader campaigned hard throughout Jeffco, and once he received 58 percent of the delegate vote at the county assembly, he said he knew he was a shoe-in. He held an early lead against his Republican opponent Jim Shires at 61.60 percent of the early total of 35,307 votes cast during the primaries. His nearly 30 years at the Sheriff’s Office holding leadership positions and creating strategic management and response tactics for deputies, supervisors and command level ranks is what’s given voters the confidence that Shrader is experienced to lead and proved to be the “vast difference” between him and his opponents, he said. Just a month before the election, Shrader discussed deputy attrition at the Sheriff’s Office. If annualized, the attrition rate is

at 20 percent, Shrader said. While he wants to make the Sheriff’s Office competitively worthy in the job market, he recognizes he will have to convince the Jeffco Board of County Commissioners that investing in public safety should be a high priority.

Community Corrections relocation The Jeffco Board of County Commissioners have attempted to relocate its community corrections facility known as ICCS for at least two years but each time, comSullivan missioners have retreated due to public outcry and planned protest. After the last decision to drop plans to relocate ICCS on W. 6th Avenue. Frontage Road near the Jeffco Fairgrounds, Commissioner Tighe held on to hope, stating, “I’m not ready to throw out the program. This is about trying to be successful with re-integrating these individuals.” It is unclear what 2015 will bring but commissioners could decide to keep ICCS at its current location in the New York Building on Kendall St. in Lakewood or find other ways to work with cities and communities. “I did receive direction from the Commissioners to resume considering options and alternatives for relocating Community Corrections,” said Ralph Schell, county manager. “This would include, perhaps, looking into how we are running the program, but

County assessor The 2014 race for Jeffco County Assessor seemed run-of-the-mill until the Transcript discovered that Republican candidate (now county assessor) Ron Sandstrom carried tax debt according to a trio of judgments brought against him by the Colorado Department of Revenue. The unpaid state income tax amounts show balances of about $1,000 to $6,000 listed during the years of 2006-11, court documents reveal. A separate judgment filed by Discover Bank in 2009 showed Sandstrom in arrears by $8,487.10 which include attorney’s fees, for failing to pay the liquidated balance from his credit card. In addition to the judgments placed against Sandstrom, two filings for tax liens were placed by the IRS for unpaid federal income taxes. Tax periods ending in December 2007 and 2008 show a total of $26,016.27 in money owed. The second tax lien shows a total of $41,083.76 money owned for tax periods ending in December 2009-2010. Despite his tax debt, Sandstrom won the race for County Assessor against Democratic opponent Andrew Hassinger.

Jail escape

Not all trailblazers are good role models. Travis Edward Sandlin was the first person to escape from the Jefferson County Detention Center on Oct. 5. He escaped from the north tower on the sixth floor at the Jefferson County Detention Facility after busting through wire mesh located in the facility’s multiple recreation yards. From there, Sandlin jumped 15 to 20 feet down onto a roof, and continued descending the tower; jumping nearly 20 feet each time before reaching ground. He had a 30-minute head start before officials realized he was gone, JCSO reported. An investigation into the jails operating procedure is under way, but no disciplinary action has been taken against any of the deputies who were working the jail the morning of Sandlin’s escape. During his 10-day run from the police, Sandlin allegedly stole six cars and burglarized several homes. After his recapture in Boulder County, his bond was set for $100,000.

Hit-and-run driver pleads guilty

GE T SOCIAL WITH US

Staff Report

P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY

I see it more as getting back into the process of considering possible alternative sites and working with cities, communities, businesses … to see if something can be worked out considering all of the issues and opportunities involved,” he said. “Basically, I’ve been authorized to start working on the project again.”

Colorado’s first mandatory reporting bill for elder abuse took effect on July 1, requiring any person who witnesses or suspects elder abuse in adults 70 or older to make a report to a local law enforcement agency. Colorado was one of just three states that did not require persons to report elder abuse. The bill was sponsored by former Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster, extends the definition of “any person” required to report abuse to include clergy and financial institutions. In preparing for the effective date, the First Judicial District Elder Unit in Jefferson County held a seminar for clergy men and women about the new bill. The Jeffco DA’s office is the only DA’s office which has an elder abuse unit. asking victims if they want to prosecute or if they want the suspect arrested. During a seminar at the Jeffco DA’s office on June 25, Scott Storey, senior chief at the First Judicial District Elder Abuse Unit, reported that elder abuse has grown 150 percent in the last 10 years, with an estimated $2.9 billion in annual financial loss by victims of elder financial abuse. “Elder abuse is a huge, huge problem in our country,” said Storey “It is under-reported, underinvestigated, under-prosecuted.”

The driver who ran a red light and killed an 18-year-old in Wheat Ridge has pleaded guilty to the crime. Alton Edward Kirkland, 23, appeared in Jefferson County Court on Dec. 30, where he pleaded guilty in the hit and run death of 18-year-old Jordan Sprouse. According to prosecutors, on May 2, 2014,

Kirkland was under the influence of alcohol as he was driving southbound on Kipling Street from W. 44th at a high rate of speed. Jordan Sprouse was traveling eastbound on W. 32nd and was crossing the intersection at Kipling on a green light when Kirkland ran the red light and struck his car on the passenger side. Kirkland left the scene of the collision but was later arrested by Wheat Ridge police. Kirkland’s girlfriend, Lanisha Walker, and her two small children were also in his car and

each sustained injuries. Kirkland admitted guilt to nine counts, including vehicular homicide involving DUI, leaving the scene of an accident, menacing, child abuse, third degree assault, and reckless driving. Following the plea hearing, Kirkland was remanded to the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 27.


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