North Jeffco
Westsider
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 43
November 2, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
17 counts in Ridgeway murder Sigg charged as an adult By Ashley Reimers areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Austin Sigg, the suspect in the murder of Jessica Ridgeway, was charged as an adult Tuesday in a Jefferson County courtroom. He faces 17 charges including four counts of first-degree murder. The 17-year-old also faces two kidnapping charges, one count of sexual assault on a child and a robbery charge con- Sigg nected to the Ridgeway murder. He faces one count of criminal attempt of sexual assault and one count of criminal attempt of kidnapping connected to the attempted abduction of a woman running around Ketner Lake in Westminster. The former Arapahoe Community College student calmly walked into the courtroom nodding to his family members who sat behind him. As the charges were read, some of Sigg’s family members began crying. Eight members of Ridgeway’s family, including her mother Sarah, were in the court room all wearing Ridgeway’s favorite color, purple.
Last week Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said Sigg will not face the death penalty because he is a juvenile. Storey said it’s a murky situation in terms of whether Sigg could face life in prison without parole also because he is a juvenile. When asked if he’s worked on a case like this one before, Storey said, “I’ve been doing this for 25 years, I’ve seen a lot.” Ten-year-old Ridgeway disappeared on Oct. 5 while walking to Chelsea Park in Westminster to meet up with friends before school. Her body was found days later in the Pattridge Park Open Space area in Arvada. Police received a call last week from Sigg’s mother leading police to his arrest. Before attending Arapahoe Community College, Sigg attended Standley Lake High School in Westminster. Sophomore Adam Williams didn’t know Sigg personally, but he did see him around school last year. He said after Sigg’s arrest was in the news it really hit home. “Once we found out that the kid who had done it had just left the school not only a year ago, a guy everyone knew or had class with, it really brought in a lot harder,” he said. “You wouldn’t expect that someone you were talking to about a math question last year would actually have done this to a little girl.”
Westminster Police officer T.C. Cunningham talks with another officer while blocking off an intersection at W. 102nd Avenue and North Moore Court where an investigation at the home of Austin Reed Sigg was underway Wednesday, Oct. 24. Photo by Andy Carpenean Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally said now that Sigg has been arrested, the community needs to also give support to the Sigg family, as well as continue the support for the Ridgeway family. She also expressed her appreciation to the law enforcement members for their continued work on this case. “I can’t say enough praise and grate-
fulness for our police force as they have worked tirelessly on this investigation,” she said. “I know each one of them are working hard to keep this city safe and to bring justice to Jessica. Each one of them think of Jessica as their own daughter.” Sigg remains in juvenile detention. The next hearing, a status conference, is set for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Jeffco Board of Education members consider censure Laura Boggs criticized for radio show comment By Cassie Monroe
cmonroe@ourcoloradonews.com The Jefferson County Board of Education is once again considering censure for member Laura Boggs. At a study session on Oct. 25, Boggs was questioned about comments she made on a radio show, when she agreed with the host that the superintendent
should be shot. The issue of the censure will be discussed at the Board of Education meeting tonight, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Denver West building, 1829 Denver West Drive, Golden. At the study session board members listened to a portion of the Oct. 18 radio show between Jason Worley, co-host of conservative Grassroots Radio Colorado on 560 AM, and Boggs. The two were discussing the district’s proposed property tax increases, ballot
issues 3A and 3B, to supplement budget cuts for the 2013-14 school year. Boggs is the only Board of Education member to oppose the measures, and doesn’t believe the district needs to ask tax payers for additional money. Worley expressed his disapproval of the district having an employee focused on social media and said, “If you have a Facebook person still in Jefferson County, your superintendent should be shot.” “Yes,” Boggs said “I’m sorry,” Worley said.
CONCENTRATION
Ava Swartzendruber (Snow White), colors a Halloween puzzle Saturday during a Halloween Carnival at City Park Recreation Center. Photo by Andy Carpenean
“Yep,” Boggs said. After the radio show comments had been brought to the attention of Jeffco’s superintendent, Cindy Stevenson, Boggs said she was doing the interview while driving and hadn’t understood what Worley had said. “Yes, I agree it was an inappropriate conversation,” Boggs said. She said she takes full responsibility for what happened and is waiting to see what happens at the next Board of Education meeting. She sent a handwritten letter of apology to Stevenson, and said she doesn’t know what else to do to express her apology. “I’ve apologized and asked for forgiveness,” Boggs said. Stevenson did not have much to say about the radio show comments, explaining her role as the superintendent is to manage the district and it is up to the board members to decide how to proceed next. “I was just shocked,” Stevenson said. “I don’t know how else to describe it.” Board President Lesley Dahlkemper said members of the school board are held to a higher standard and Boggs comments were inappropriate. “Especially when we take into consideration the Jeffco community’s history,” Dahlkemper said. “We take this matter very seriously.” Boggs was first censured in 2010 after board members passed the vote due to Boggs’ string of unethical behavior, threat to stop a $32.8 million federal grant and after telling Stevenson in a meeting that she was going to “tear this county apart.” A censure carries no legal action, but sends a message to the public that the board expresses disapproval of Boggs’ actions.
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.