A bench warrant was issued Tuesday morning for the arrest of Lisa Williams after she failed to appear for a sentencing hearing in District Court.

It was the second time Williams failed to appear for sentencing on a burglary conviction that was handed down in September.

Additionally, Williams previously showed up three hours late for a court appearance, according to Deputy District Attorney Alex Lowe.

District Court Judge Gregory Lyman issued the felony arrest warrant when Williams failed to appear alongside attorney Brian Schowalter Tuesday morning, with Schowalter indicating that he had not spoken to Williams.

Lyman declined to issue a bench warrant when Williams previously failed to appear due to a pending misdemeanor warrant.

Williams was convicted of second-degree burglary of a dwelling and theft during a two-day trial in September that concluded with 21 minutes of deliberation, according to Lowe and Det. Brandon Bishop with the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office.

The conviction stemmed from a December 2011 incident in which 12 guns, electronics and a large amount of jewelry, totaling nearly $20,000, were stolen from a home located along U.S. 151 in Arboles.

At about 7 p.m. on Dec. 20, the burglary of the home was reported to Bishop. In the process of investigating the burglary, Bishop said he made contact with a confidential informant.

That informant reported to Bishop that a woman wanted to talk to him because she had property belonging to a man, Lambert Gachupin, at her house.

According to Det. Lando Garcia in a previous interview, the woman said Gachupin was storing property at her house, but that she was unaware of what the property was until she heard the informant discussing the burglary.

After hearing of the burglary, the woman looked at the property, which was reportedly stored under a blanket in her cellar, and discovered 12 guns.

Bishop and Garcia responded to the scene, where the 12 guns and two iPods taken in the burglary were recovered.

A search warrant was later executed on Williams’ home, where some jewelry and electronics were recovered, Bishop reported.

In the process of investigating the matter, other individuals stepped forward with information, Garcia reported at the time, including Williams, who reported that she had stayed at the burglarized home in Arboles for several days with a friend prior to the incident.

While there, Williams reported that Gachupin, her boyfriend at the time, had visited the house and “checked the house out,” Garcia said.

Later, Gachupin reportedly told Williams he was going to rob the house and needed a ride.

Garcia said the pair received a ride from another female to the home in order to burglarize it.

All stolen items but one ring were recovered, Bishop said.

“It was a good case,” Bishop said. “It’s not too often all the property gets returned.”

Gachupin was sentenced to seven years in the Colorado Department of Corrections in March after pleading, “Guilty as sin.”

randi@pagosasun.com

Angelo Roger Rivard, 24, of Pagosa Springs, was found not guilty on four counts of burglary and four counts of theft following a jury trial that ended Wednesday afternoon.

Rivard was suspected in a string of burglaries that occurred in March 2011, along with Dominique Swanson, 28, who took a plea deal earlier this year and was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Rivard’s trial began Monday afternoon with opening statements by Deputy District Attorney Alex Lowe and Rivard’s attorney, Brian Schowalter.

In beginning, Lowe called the burglaries a weeklong crime spree in which Wolf Creek Anglers, the San Juan Historical Society and Museum, The Outfitter and one residence were burglarized, with items stolen from each.

Lowe spoke of a dog bite to Swanson the morning after The Outfitter was broken into that was believed to have actually been a cut from broken glass and for which Rivard took Swanson to the hospital, as well as items found and confessions on two different occasions.

For his opening argument, Schowalter cast blame on the owner of the home where some  stolen items were found — Toby Martinez — suggesting that he or his brother Mario acted with Swanson.

Schowalter also asked the jury to judge the credibility of several witnesses in the case, while listening closely to alibi witnesses.

Then, after more than a day of witness and expert testimony, the attorneys were up to provide closing statements.

In his closing statement, Lowe asked the jury to consider the evidence before them, stating that the only disputed fact in the case was whether or not Rivard was responsible for the burglaries and thefts.

Lowe recalled confessions that were reportedly given by Rivard on two separate occasions, and alleged several of the involved parties, such as Toby and Mario Martinez, were covering for one another.

Lowe also pointed to Reva Shepard, Rivard’s girlfriend, who changed her testimony on the stand from what she offered when she was questioned by investigators (indicating she was protecting Rivard), and timelines given by several parties that did not match.

Lowe also reminded the jury that Swanson’s DNA was found at the museum.

Schowalter began his closing statement by stating that, if Rivard were guilty of anything, it would be of protecting Swanson, his best friend.

“This is a very weak case,” Schowalter said. “This is an extremely weak case.”

Schowalter likened the prosecution’s case to puzzles, in which the pieces don’t fit, but are jammed together anyway.

Schowalter again cast doubt on Toby Martinez, pointing to stolen items found in the man’s bedroom, and told the jury the testimony of Martinez was not credible.

Additionally, Schowalter questioned the credibility of a number of other witnesses, such as those who testified to Rivard’s confessions, and stated that inconsistencies in the stories told by those around Rivard were likely inconsistent because they were not rehearsed.

During the closing statement, Lowe objected twice, once to Schowalter telling the jury of preliminary hearing testimony that was not in evidence, and another time for Schowalter’s calling testimony “lies,” with Lyman ruling that the evidence was left for the jury to sort out, but asking that Schowalter not call testimony “lies.”

“Nobody knows exactly what happened,” Schowalter said, again calling it a weak case and later adding, “Angelo Rivard is not guilty. There’s just not enough evidence.”

In his rebuttal, Lowe called it frustrating that it was the jury’s job to determine credibility and yet Schowalter opined on the matter, and added that the words of the attorneys did not constitute evidence.

Lowe then discussed other evidence called into question by Schowalter, as well as indicating that a search warrant was never performed at the residences of Swanson and Rivard because information indicated the stolen items were no longer in Archuleta County.

Lowe then stated that it was not a weak case, but one in which the dots had to be connected.

The jury deliberated on the case for less than two hours before returning with the acquittal.

Upon the reading of the verdict, Rivard and his supporters were emotional, with Rivard hugging Schowalter multiple times.

randi@pagosasun.com

Due to a recent rash of vandalism at Pagosa Springs’ Town and Yamaguchi Parks, Tom Carosello, the director of the Parks and Recreation Department, announced at last week’s town council meeting a plan to install high quality video surveillance cameras in an effort to catch the perpetrators in the act.

“Unfortunately vandalism hasn’t slowed down as I thought it would from the summer time,” Carosello reported. “I think it is finally time, unfortunately, to have to do that, but if we do, hopefully we can get some of these … citizens — I use the term loosely — and hopefully it will help curb the vandalism.”

Readers of The SUN will recall an article published Aug. 23 by Randi Pierce describing the theft of the handicap-accessible swing from the playground at Yamaguchi Park. Apparently, the problem is chronic and on-going.

“The vandalism is significant,” town manager David Mitchem added, “so we are going to provide instructions to the police department to do some more patrolling there, and unless council objects, we’re planning to take $11,000 from the Riverwalk improvement line item to buy cameras, improve the doors at the Town Park restrooms and try to harden those two sites against vandalism as best we can.”

No one on town council objected to Mitchem taking money out of the Riverwalk budget and handling the situation administratively instead of drafting a resolution and placing it before the council for a vote.

“Dennis Ford and Jim Miller (town staff) have been really helpful in putting together estimates for security cameras at both locations,” Carosello continued. “There will be cameras up before the end of the year in Yamaguchi and Town Park. We’ll be able to monitor those remotely and be able to store up to a month’s worth of information from them.”

When Council member Kathie Lattin asked what the vandalism entailed, Mitchem explained, “In Town Park they’re ripping the shakes off the sides of the building and ripping the spindles out of the railing to go up onto the stage. They’re plugging the toilets and flooding the restrooms, and just generally ripping it up as best they can.”

During a later interview parks superintendent Miller clarified, “The creativity of the local … artist,” he had to pause and search for a way of describing the vandals that could be printed in a family newspaper, “is exceptional. We have a very high quality of criminal in Pagosa Springs.

“They are experimenting with hydraulic dynamics,” he added. “They take the toilet paper, full rolls sometimes, and put them in the toilets, plug the floor drain with paper towels out of the paper towel dispenser, and then repeatedly flush the toilets, seeing how much water they can get in there. That’s what I encountered Nov. 17 in Yamaguchi Park, which was the third or fourth time I have encountered that.”

Miller went on to describe other occasions where all of the paper products have been pulled out of the dispensers and scattered over the restroom floor. Picnic tables have been carved or written on (“things you wouldn’t want your grandma or little sister to read”), but, worst of all, “a well established, though not large, crabapple tree” has been snapped off at its base. “How they accomplished that, and whether or not it was the same ‘they’ or not, I don’t know.”

“Now, we have a brand new set of restrooms down at Yamaguchi Park,” Mitchem continued at the town council meeting, “and they’re hanging on the doors of the stalls inside to try to rip them off the hinges. It just takes a tremendous amount of work on the part of town staff to try to do the repairs and clean-up.”

When Mayor Ross Aragon asked about increased police presence, Mitchem responded, “We are going to increase police presence at both locations to try to catch them but, in the meantime, and for the long run, we are going to put cameras up and handle it that way, as well.”

When council member Don Volger asked how many incidents have occurred, Mitchem admitted, “We’re getting hit every weekend right before town staff goes down there to lock them up, it appears, and frankly, after school during the week as well. They are being diligent in their efforts, so we are going to be diligent, too. We’re going to catch them.”

Miller, in the later interview, explained, “This is something Mayor Ross Aragon and I share: Small town values, that nebulous aesthetic those of us who enjoy living here strive to obtain, includes things like no graffiti, no vandalism, no major street crime, and a sense of feeling safe when you go walking in the parks at two in the morning, which I see people doing regularly. Even though the parks are ostensibly closed by town ordinance at dusk, people should feel safe walking the Riverwalk at two in the morning.”

ed.fincher@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

A number of Archuleta County burglaries remain unsolved, and law enforcement is seeking help.

Over the past several months, at least 13 burglaries have gone unsolved, with a number of them occurring in the Arboles area, as well as at locations that may not be often visited.

Detective Brandon Bishop of the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office  reported that seven storage units at Lake View Storage, located at 400 County Road 973 in Arboles, were broken into over the last several months, with stolen items including expensive grandfather clocks, taxidermy mounts, furniture and miscellaneous items.

Bishop reported that two oil rigs were broken into, both located in the 200 block of County Road 973, with shirts, pants, boots and tire chains taken.

Another break-in, at an Arboles county facility, was previously reported in The SUN.

At about 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 19, a member of the Archuleta County Road and Bridge Department discovered that a shared substation of the Road and Bridge Department and ACSO located along County Road 973 had been illegally entered.

According to Det. Lando Garcia, the screen of a front window at the substation had been pulled off and the window left open, though no items were discovered to have been taken.

In addition to the burglaries, an early December call to law enforcement reported four trespassers on property located on Cox Circle, near Arboles, in the middle of the night, Bishop said. Deputies reportedly were in a foot race with the trespassers, but were unable to catch them.

“So, there’s been a lot of action out there,” Bishop said, referring to the Arboles area.

Unsolved burglaries have also taken place in other parts of Archuleta County in the last few months.

In September, a $7,000 gold statue was stolen from Tara Mandala, located on Forest Service Road 649. The statue, weighing approximately 50 pounds, was reported stolen Sept. 5, with the burglary taking place some time the prior night, Bishop said.

On Saturday, Sept. 15, the ACSO received a report of a burglary at a home in the Loma Linda subdivision south of Pagosa Springs. At some point between Aug. 5 and Sept. 15, the home was burglarized to the tune of over $60,000 worth of property.

Bishop said items stolen from the property include TVs, four-wheelers and sporting good items.

Because the home’s owners were away at the time of the burglary, Bishop said it is unclear when the burglaries occurred, or if the items were taken in a single incident or during several incidents.

Entry was obtained through a kitchen window, Bishop said.

Another burglary was discovered at 8 a.m. on Oct. 2, at a residence located at 4691 U.S. 160 East and likely took place some time the prior night.

Bishop said the burglar or burglars gained access to the house via a second story sliding door, using a ladder found on the property.

At least $27,000 worth of property was taken, Bishop said, including rugs, tools, furniture, household items and electronics. Additionally, furniture was piled in the driveway of the residence, with Bishop indicating the burglar likely intended to make a second trip to pick up the items.

The electricity in the house was turned off at the breaker by the burglar, Bishop said.

Timelines on many of the burglaries have been difficult to determine due to the locations not being visited on a daily basis, Bishop said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by calling 264-2133, visiting www.pagosacrime.com, or texting “ACCST” plus the message to 274-637 (CRIMES).

randi@pagosasun.com

By Sarah Jacobson
Special to The SUN

Dylan Redwine

A subject has been attempting to perpetrate a scam via Facebook in reference to the disappearance of 13-year-old Dylan Redwine.

The scammer identifies himself as Abass Gadafi, a new resident of the Bayfield area. He claims to be the “boss of a kidnapper gang” and claims to be holding Dylan Redwine captive and wants $1,000 to provide a photo of Dylan; then he expects another $4,000 in order to release Dylan.

The scammer asks that money be sent to an address in Ontario, Canada, via Western Union, to his gang “united kingdom.”

An anonymous donor has given $5,000 to Crime Stoppers for information leading to the recovery of Dylan Redwine. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 970-247-1112.

Citizens who have information that may aid in the search for Dylan are also asked to leave a voicemail message on the Dylan Redwine Tip Line at (970) 382-7511. If a citizen wants a return call from law enforcement, they must leave their contact information, but anonymous tips are also acceptable. This tip line is checked several times each day for distribution of information to the investigators.

The Task Force is still requesting any recreational video footage or photographs that include vehicles traveling on any routes between Durango and Vallecito Lake, taken between 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18, through noon on Monday, Nov. 19. Citizens who have video footage or photographs that may be helpful to the investigation are asked to call dispatch at (970) 385-2900 to make an arrangement to get a copy of the footage or photographs to the Task Force.

Citizens can also call the hotline for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE LOST.

Staff Writer

A statement released by the U.S. Forest Service this week indicates that Archuleta County resident Arthur Hank Anstine was sentenced on Dec. 11 in Federal District Court in Denver for providing commercial services on federal lands without a special-use permit.

The full version of this story is available in the print edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100. 

Staff Writer

A Pagosa Springs man convicted of theft this fall was sentenced to jail time and probation Tuesday morning by District Court Judge Gregory Lyman.

The full version of this story is available in the print edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100. 

By Chief William Rockensock
Special to The SUN

The Pagosa Springs Police Department is participating in the upcoming 2012 High Visibility Impaired Driving Enforcement (HVIDE) campaigns.

Enforcement periods for the New Years Eve holiday are Dec. 28 through Jan. 2.

Officers will be designated as DUI enforcement units, targeting alcohol related driving offenses.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) In 2010, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes – one every 51 minutes.

The Pagosa Springs Police Department wants to remind everyone that if they observe a driver they believe to be impaired, they should contact the Archuleta County Combined Dispatch Center at 731-2160 or dial 911.

Staff Writer

The safety and security of local schools was not an issue on the agenda at the Dec. 20 town council meeting. However, in light of recent national events, it was on the mind of at least one council member.

“I’ve been asked by several people in the community,” council member Kathie Lattin said, “‘What is the town doing to protect our schools?’ I just want to know that somebody is looking into it. Are we good? Do we need to change things? What is being done?”

On Dec. 14, Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. After killing the students and staff members, Lanza committed suicide by shooting himself in the head as first responders arrived. After the 2007 Virginia Tech incident, the Sandy Hook massacre was the second deadliest school shooting in United States history.

Pagosa Springs Police Chief Bill Rockensock responded to Lattin’s concerns, “This week I talked to Superintendent Mark DeVoti about having officers in the schools. We have not received any indication that there is any kind of threat in our school system at this point in time.”

When asked for a response later, DeVoti stated, “We have had no indications either from law enforcement or the community of any copycat threats, although I know nationally there have been a few, and Bayfield had a Facebook posting in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy which they deemed credible and investigated it.”

“That being said,” Rockensock continued at the town council meeting, “this week I have had officers doing walk-throughs at the schools, safety checks, security checks of the exteriors of the buildings, making sure that school staff is aware of what the protocols are if something were to occur. We do have tactical response plans in place for all of our schools, and have had for some time.”

“We met with local law enforcement right after the Newtown Tragedy,” DeVoti explained later, “and they increased walkthroughs by officers in the school from once to up to several times a day.  They also made a suggestion on covering classroom door windows with paper so they could not be seen into from the hallways.

“In conducting building walkthroughs, we have noticed several window blinds that need replacing so they can be closed quickly, and those are in the process of being replaced.  The main doors on the high school were replaced last week due to issues with securing them properly, but that had been scheduled about a month prior.  Last summer we changed all the locks on the middle school so we could limit the access to keys. This is something we do in all our buildings at times.”

Pagosa Springs Elementary School principal Kate Lister explained, “We meet with Kathy Morris from San Juan BOCES, Janell Wood, Dolly Martin and all the law agencies to review and adjust procedures to match the most current best practices.”

“As administrators, we have been trained in the NIMS,” Pagosa Springs High School Principal David Hamilton added. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines. NIMS enables various government agencies to work together to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, in order to reduce the loss of life.

“Also last summer,” DeVoti added, “we reviewed and upgraded (with regional safety professionals) all our emergency response procedures, protocols, and standardized language (lockdown, lockout, etc.  No more unclear terms like ‘soft lockdown’).”

“A lockdown is where the kids have to be quiet and gather somewhere in the room away from the windows and the door where someone could see them inside,” Hamilton explained. “We do a fire drill every other month and a lockdown every other month.”

“We also implemented a new emergency messaging service that ties directly with our student management system,” DeVoti said, “so when we send out messages (school delays, closings, lockouts, etc.) we are assured that we have updated contact information on everyone, as long as they are updating their child’s contact information with the schools.

“Many of the protocols we adopted were from the resources of the I Love You Guys Foundation (iloveyouguys.org) started by the parents whose daughter was shot in the Platte Valley tragedy.”

“Law  enforcement agencies  have always partnered well with us,” Lister said. “Many of them have their own children in our school so they are  dedicated  to keeping all of our  students  safe. The town police, county sheriff  and Colorado State Patrol have all worked with me on our campus, to discuss any concerns with our  procedures  and for them to become  acquainted  with the  actual  site.”

“We would like to work with the town or the county to have a resource officer in the school,” Hamilton said. “It would be a great liaison between the police force and the student body. In fact, we have begged (and it happens because they are really good) and we get Floyd Capistrant, T. J. Fitzwater and Tony Kop in the building a lot. They’ve built a good rapport with our students, but we would like to have them on a full-time basis. It would make for a healthier environment.”

“The recently fueled talks about whether or not to have arms quietly carried on campuses by trained professionals is to be watched closely,” DeVoti stated. “In a ‘it could never happen here’ world, I believe it may have merits to some degree.  Student safety is and needs to be our number one concern, from threats from within and outside the schools.  We need more counselors for children and we need more secure campuses.”

“Prior to the Newtown  incident,” Lister continued, “Officer Floyd Capistrant spent much time working with me on reviewing the safety of the campus and making a few recommendations, such as covering the hallway windows. We began discussions about  purchasing  additional interior hallway security cameras and possibly adding a key-coded  lock system to our front door.  Our staff and students practice our safety drills such as fire drills and lockdowns regularly and document them for review.”

“Last week, the police were in and out of our building daily,” Hamilton confirmed. “They were checking doors and checking for suspicious people. One of the reasons they did that was a heightened awareness of this Mayan calendar end-of-the-world, and they thought someone might do something stupid if they really thought the world was going to come to an end. We actually had families that kept their kids home from school on that day just in case.”

“The hype of the Mayan Calendar, end of the world prophesy did add some local worries,” DeVoti confirmed, “coming only a week after Newtown, and it was good to get through last week and send everyone on break to breathe a little.”

While school staff has worked closely with local law enforcement in reaction to Sandy Hook, how to react to student concerns has also been an important issue, especially with the younger students.

“We have kept  pretty  quiet  about the Newtown incident at the  elementary  school due to the nature of our  student’s  age,” Lister admitted. “We didn’t want to expose students to the news if their families had protected them from it.  Teachers were provided with suggestions of how to answer student’s questions and concerns if they did bring the situation up and our counselor worked with anyone who was more distressed about it.”

“I grew up an hour from Newtown, Connecticut,” DeVoti concluded, “and my first job in education was in Newtown.  My aunt picked up her grandchildren from there the day of the shootings.  My kindergarten nephew and third -grade niece live less than an hour away from there.”

“Overall, our staff was saddened by the incident and  recognized  how important and dear their students were to them,” Lister concluded. “The idea that something horrible could happen to any of our children just made us sick.”

ed.fincher@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

Pagosa Springs Police Department personnel are seeking information concerning two cases of shoplifting in early December.

The first shoplifting case took place on Dec. 5 at Mountain Spirits Liquor, located next door to City Market, and was reported to the PSPD Dec. 6, with Officer Tony Kop responding.

According to Det. Scott Maxwell of the PSPD, at about 5:30 p.m., an unidentified man went into the store and proceeded to hide a $93 bottle of wine in his pants before exiting the store.

About 10 minutes later, the man reportedly returned to the store and attempted to either exchange the bottle of wine or receive store credit for returning it, Maxwell reported.

In the process of the man’s trying to exchange the wine, the store clerk suspected that the bottle had been stolen, Maxwell said.

Maxwell said the man is described as a white male, possibly in his late 50s, with collar-length hair and an, “unkempt moustache.”

The second case of unsolved shoplifting involved a television and took place on Dec. 9, with Officer Brooks Brown responding.

At approximately 6:48 p.m., Brown was dispatched to ALCO, where a television in a box had been stolen by an unidentified male and an unidentified female, Maxwell reported.

The male is described as being approximately six feet tall, in his 20s, and was wearing a baseball cap and a brown Carhartt jacket.

The female is described as being about 5-6, in her 20s, with brown hair.

Security footage from both shopliftings is available for viewing at www.PagosaSUN.com.

Anyone with information on either shoplifting incident is urged to call Maxwell at 264-4151, Ext. 241, or to contact CrimeStoppers by calling 264-2133, visiting www.pagosacrime.com or by texting ACCST plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

randi@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

Mark Trail, a suspect in the May 2012 shooting of a horse and a September 2012 standoff with local law enforcement, entered “Not guilty” pleas in both cases Tuesday morning in front of District Court Judge Gregory Lyman.

Both cases were then set for spring trials, starting on May 28 for the horse shooting case, and April 22 for the standoff case, according to Deputy District Attorney Alex Lowe.

Trail was arrested on animal cruelty charges in May 2012, following the alleged shooting of his neighbor’s horse. The horse died later that afternoon.

On the afternoon of May 19, Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 1200 block of Ute Drive in Aspen Springs on a report that a horse had been shot earlier that day, said ACSO Investigator Lando Garcia.

Cpl. Jake Beach met with the owner of the horse, who reported that a neighbor had shot his horse at about 6:30 a.m. that morning, Garcia said.

Garcia said the horse was outside of its fenced area at the time it was shot.

The neighbor suspected in the incident, Trail, was then arrested on May 24, Garcia said. Arrest charges against Trail included theft of certain animals (because he allegedly killed the horse and therefore deprived the owner of his property), a class-four felony, and cruelty to animals, a class one misdemeanor.

On his way to a court hearing for that case in September, Trail was pulled over on a traffic stop, which resulted in a 26-hour standoff with local law enforcement.

Charges filed against Trail for the standoff include two counts of first-degree assault on a peace officer, two counts of felony menacing, four counts of violation of bond conditions (one count for each above charge), and driving with a revoked license (a misdemeanor).

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, Pagosa Springs Police Officer Tony Kop initiated the traffic stop on Hot Springs Boulevard between Apache Street and the post office following receipt of a tip that the driver was driving with a revoked license, said Det. Scott Maxwell with the Pagosa Springs Police Department.

Maxwell indicated that Trail’s license had been revoked due to Trail’s status as a habitual traffic offender.

When Kop approached the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Trail, brandished a weapon and began yelling at Kop, who then retreated to his vehicle and called for backup, Maxwell said.

A perimeter was immediately set up, blocking off a portion of Hot Springs Boulevard and a number of other downtown streets.

At about 9 a.m., Officer T.J. Fitzwater initiated negotiations with Trail, who Maxwell described as being apparently emotionally distraught, suicidal and armed with a handgun.

Negotiation attempts continued throughout the day and night. As the incident progressed, barricades along Hot Springs Boulevard were moved to allow for increased business along the road, with the post office allowed to reopen at about 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Late Wednesday morning, officers, after more than a day of fruitless negotiations and believing that Trail was intent on harming himself, decided to breach the vehicle and apprehend the suspect, Maxwell said.

At approximately 11:10 a.m., bean bag rounds were fired at the vehicle’s windows, a Taser was deployed to subdue Trail, and he was removed from the vehicle

The suspect and two officers received minor injuries from broken glass during the operation.

Maxwell confirmed that Trail did not leave his car during the incident and no shots were fired until the use of beanbag rounds to break the van’s windows.

Trail is being held in the Archuleta County Detention Center. He is represented by the Colorado Public Defender’s Office.

randi@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

Dillon McKee

A Pagosa Springs juvenile was reported missing Thursday, Feb. 14.

Seventeen-year-old Dylan McKee was last seen in the early morning of Feb. 14, and was reported missing later that day.

McKee is described as being 5 feet 9 inches or 5 feet 10 inches, weighing 180 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, according to Archuleta County Undersheriff Rich Valdez.

He was last seen driving a maroon or dark red Chevy Malibu, possibly a Malibu wagon, Valdez said.

According to Valdez, McKee was said to be playing video games with a friend in the early hours of Feb. 14. The friend reported in an initial interview with law enforcement that he had last seen McKee around 4 a.m.

The next morning, McKee’s mother woke to find her son missing from their Hatcher Lake-area home.

An investigation into the matter revealed that McKee had used his debit card around 3:30 a.m. to purchase about $45 worth of fuel from the Giant gas station, Valdez said.

Footage obtained from the scene showed McKee with a woman that Valdez said his heavy-set, wearing glasses, and wearing a dark-colored shirt. Officials believe the female’s name may be Tessa.

The vehicle then left in an unknown direction, Valdez said.

“At this point, we’re doing everything we can,” Valdez said, indicating a search of the Hatcher Lake area had been performed.

A photo was not available as of 12:30 p.m., but will be uploaded to www.PagosaSUN.com when available.

Valdez said additional information will be added to www.PagosaCrime.com as it is known.

randi@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

A Pagosa Springs man is facing charges following a Valentine’s Day accident that left two passengers seriously injured.

On Feb. 14, at approximately 1:18 a.m., Pagosa Springs Police Department Sgt. T.J. Fitzwater was dispatched to a report of a single-car accident with injuries, said Det. Scott Maxwell.

According to incident reports, the driver of the vehicle went to The Springs Resort following the accident, but, when Fitzwater arrived, the driver was no longer there, Maxwell said.

Fitzwater then went to the scene of the accident, at Hot Springs Boulevard and U.S. 160, Maxwell said. The vehicle was located on its side off of the roadway near the athletic field at Town Park.

Upon arrival, Fitzwater found that a passenger with serious injuries remained in the car, and an ambulance was called. Further investigation revealed that there had been another passenger, as well.

According to the accident report, the passenger left in the vehicle was Christopher Young, and the passenger who left the vehicle was Shaina Myers, both of Pagosa Springs.

It was determined that the vehicle had been traveling at approximately 36 mph when it apparently skidded on ice, left the roadway and came to rest on its side in the area of the embankment, Maxwell reported.

The driver, Brandon Vaughn, 25, of Pagosa Springs, as well as the second passenger, Myers, were located about 20 minutes later at their residence on North 7th Street, Maxwell said.

Incident reports indicated the driver sustained minor injuries.

Arrest charges on Vaughn for the incident include leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular assault, careless driving, DUI and DUI per se.

Official charges have not been filed with the courts yet, but Deputy District Attorney Alex Lowe indicated several felony charges are possible, including child abuse, noting that a minor was left home alone at the time of the accident.

randi@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

The Archuleta County Detention Center experienced a population boom last week with the arrest of five Albuquerque residents.

The five were booked into jail last week following an incident in which two stolen cars were recovered and several of the suspects falsely identified themselves to law enforcement.

According to Det. Scott Maxwell of the Pagosa Springs Police Department, the group was in Pagosa Springs to visit an inmate at the Archuleta County Detention Center on March 20, when the incident took place.

The events began to unfold at about 7 p.m. that day, when the proprietor of a local restaurant, located in east Pagosa Springs, reported that two individuals, a male and female, left the restaurant without paying their $54 dinner bill, Maxwell said.

The proprietor reported the description of the pair and their vehicle, as well as their direction of travel, to Archuleta County Combined Dispatch.

It was later discovered that the pair attempted to pay for the meal with multiple credit cards that were declined before stating that they were going to leave to obtain cash, Maxwell reported.

The vehicle was located almost immediately by Archuleta County Sheriff’s Deputy Monica Medina, said Maxwell, in the parking lot of the downtown plaza at 5th and San Juan streets.

A dispatcher then advised that the vehicle, a 1996 silver Saturn, was reported stolen in New Mexico, Maxwell said.

Following the alert by dispatch that the car was stolen, a detention officer at the jail informed officers working on the case that a woman by the name of Roxanna Castillo — the vehicle’s registered owner — was at the jail visiting an inmate.

PSPD Sgt. T.J. Fitzwater responded to the ACDC to speak with the woman, who reported that a friend had borrowed the vehicle from her and failed to return it, prompting her to report it as stolen. When the friend returned it, the woman said she forgot to inform law enforcement — a story that turned out to be false, as did the woman’s identity.

A second female at the jail for the visit then stated that her ID was in a vehicle parked at the plaza across the street and that she needed it to visit the inmate at the jail.

That female then returned to the downtown parking lot with Fitzwater, telling him that she had never ridden in the Saturn, but only in another car — a 2001 gold Oldsmobile.

However, the woman later reportedly retrieved her ID from the Saturn.

A check on the Oldsmobile determined that it, too, had been reported stolen, Maxwell reported.

Upon Fitzwater’s arrival at the 5th and San Juan location with the woman, a male and two females exited the Subway store, quickly changed directions and started walking away, Maxwell said. The trio was stopped and detained, and the male was identified as the man who skipped on his bill at the restaurant earlier that evening.

The male denied knowing that either car was stolen, stating he had been picked up by the women.

The investigation then confirmed that both vehicles were stolen, with law enforcement contacting the real owners of both vehicles, Maxwell said. Keys to one of the vehicles had been hidden and were later found by Fitzwater.

Both vehicles were stolen from the Albuquerque area, Maxwell said, in separate incidents — the Oldsmobile stolen while the owner was warming it up, and the Saturn stolen from the residence of a friend of the owner.

In the process of the investigation, several of the suspects gave false names and dates of birth to the officers, Maxwell said.

With several false identities, two stolen cars and a skipped dinner bill, five individuals were then arrested and booked into the ACDC.

Dennis Chavez, 26, of Albuquerque, was arrested for theft of services.

Debra Ramirez, 44, of Bernalillo, N.M., was arrested for aggravated motor vehicle theft and tampering with evidence (for the hidden keys).

Jennifer Ramirez, 26, of Rio Rancho, N.M., was arrested for aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal impersonation (for pretending to be Castillo, the car owner).

Amanda Apodaca, 30, of Placitas, N.M., was arrested for aggravated motor vehicle theft.

Candida Ramirez, 22, of Rio Rancho, was arrested for aggravated motor vehicle theft and tampering with evidence.

A search of the vehicles revealed drugs, drug paraphernalia and various stolen checks, Maxwell added.

randi@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

An Illinois man is currently in jail after reportedly admitting to authorities that he broke into and stayed at several houses located east of Pagosa Springs.

Preston Philippe, 28, of Duquoin, Ill., is being held on a $10,000 bond in the Archuleta County Detention Center.

According to Det. Brandon Bishop with the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office, Philippe was apprehended by ACSO personnel after a burglary was reported at the Saddleback Ranch, located at 401 Forest Service Road 667.

Bishop said the reporting party for the incident, a caretaker of the ranch, indicated he  noticed a broken window and that the door was locked and could not be opened, as if it was blocked by furniture.

After calling in the incident, the reporting party allegedly remained a distance from the house until deputies arrived, but saw the suspect flee from the back of the house.

Responding deputies located the suspect, Philippe, hiding in a nearby field. Bishop said he was wearing clothes taken from the home.

Upon locating the suspect, Bishop said Philippe admitted to deputy John Martin that he had stayed in the home at the Saddleback Ranch for one day and night.

Bishop indicated that evidence at the home indicated a longer stay, and that a window in the back of the house had been used to gain entry into the residence.

Then, in interviews with ACSO personnel, Bishop reported that Philippe admitted to cooking meals and watching TV at the residence, as well as to having entered and stayed in several other houses.

One of the other houses, Bishop said, was reported to have been burglarized two days prior, on April 27.

According to Bishop, Philippe said that he was walking from Illinois to California.

En route, Philippe reportedly stopped at two different cabins, located at 8901 A and 8901 B U.S. 160, for four days, Bishop said.

Following four days, Bishop said Philippe used a footbridge to cross the San Juan River, going to 680 Wolf Creek Place, where he gained entry to the residence through a back door.

Bishop indicated that the suspect confessed to staying at 680 Wolf Creek Place for seven days before being scared off by cleaning personnel who showed up at the house.

While at that house, Bishop said the suspect did  laundry and rode a four-wheeler around the driveway.

Upon leaving that house, Bishop said Philippe walked one mile east to the house at the Saddleback Ranch, where he was seen by the ranch’s caretakers.

Other than the clothes the suspect was wearing when caught, Bishop said it was not apparent that anything  was stolen from any of the houses.

“We lucked out that we caught him and got him to confess to all four,” Bishop said.

In investigating the matter, Bishop said the ACSO is seeking infomation about any other burglaries that might have occurred recently in the area east of San Juan River Village, as well as investigating if other burglaries committed between Illinois and Colorado are related.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Archuleta County Crime Stoppers by calling 264-2133, visiting www.pagosacrime.com, or by texting “ACCST” plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES).

randi@pagosasun.com

Staff Writer

Police are seeking information on a set of kayaks and related gear stolen — and subsequently returned — in April.

Although the majority of the gear was recovered, law enforcement is working to determine where the gear was kept when missing, who had it, and who took it.

On April 4, Pagosa Springs Police Department Officer Tony Kop was dispatched to a residence on the 400 block of Lewis Street on a report of theft, said Det. Scott Maxwell.

At the residence, a victim reported that, the night before, she and her boyfriend had left two kayaks and various items of kayaking equipment on a back porch to dry, and that all of the equipment was gone the next morning.

Then, on April 27, a third party returned the property to a friend of the victims, Maxwell said.

Among those items stolen are a Pyranha kayak (yellow with orange coloring), a Jackson All-Star kayak (orange, with an Arizona flag sticker), as well as related items such as float bags, men’s and women’s neoprene gear, men’s and women’s PFDs, paddles, helmets and more.

Gear stolen was estimated to be worth about $3,700, Maxwell reported.

“We’re looking for information as to the theft or possession or whereabouts of this property in between those dates,” said Maxwell.

Maxwell said he has reason to believe the property was possibly at a residence in the northern section of the downtown area.

Anyone with information is asked to call Maxwell at 264-4151, Ext. 241, or contact Archuleta County Crime Stoppers by calling 264-2133, visiting www.pagosacrime.com, or by texting “ACCST” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Maxwell added that anyone who provides information leading to an arrest will be eligible for a cash reward.

randi@pagosasun.com

Parents of yesteryear seldom had to worry about protecting their kids from strangers once their kids were safely inside the home.

But since the dawn of the Internet, parents know the safety of their private residence can be easily compromised. Be it through social media, chat rooms or other online outlets, strangers can now gain access to children in a variety of ways, many of which are seemingly innocent.

The prevalence of online predators has many parents looking for ways to protect their kids when they go online. Some parents may want to outlaw the Internet altogether until kids reach high school, but such a reaction can put kids at a significant disadvantage academically by barring them from what is often a valuable resource. Parents who want their kids to get the most out of the Internet without putting them in danger of online predators can employ the following tips.

•  Warn kids about the potential risks and dangers of the Internet. Many parents would prefer their kids did not know about Internet predators, but that wish should not outweigh the desire to keep kids safe. Teach kids that people on the Internet may not always behave honestly, misrepresenting themselves in an effort to gain access to unsuspecting and often trusting kids. Teach kids to take the same approach with online strangers that they do with strangers they see in public, never sharing any personal information or engaging in conversation with someone they don’t know. Teach kids to tell an adult they trust immediately if an online stranger contacts them.

• Use the filters at your disposal. Parents can filter certain websites so children cannot access them. Filter sites geared toward adults as well as any sites where kids might be at risk of coming into contact with potential predators. Block chat rooms and other sites where adults can pose as kids and make sure kids who are involved with social media have made their online profiles private and only accessible to friends and family members.

• Monitor kids’ online activity on a daily basis. The Internet is such a commonly used tool that many kids go online at least once per day. Homework assignments and other school functions are commonly posted online, and many kids communicate with friends via the Internet as much as they do in person. Parents should monitor their kids’ online activity on a daily basis, scanning their web history and examining their social media interactions to be sure kids aren’t putting themselves in harm’s way. Kids may grow more resistant to such monitoring as they grow older, but parents cannot turn a blind eye to kids’ online activity simply to avoid a confrontation.

• Keep the computer in a common area. The family computer should be kept in a common area where parents can monitor how much time kids are spending online, what they’re doing and who they’re speaking to while surfing the Internet. When kids have their own computers or tablets in their bedrooms, parents can easily lose track of how much time kids are spending online. This makes it easier for online predators to gain access to kids, who have a harder time recognizing potential predators than adults.

• Remember kids can get online on their smartphones, too. Computers are no longer the only way for kids to get online. More and more kids, especially those in high school, are doing their online surfing via their smartphones. Monitor kids’ mobile phone usage just like you do their computer usage. Peruse their call and texting history, and discuss any suspect usage with them immediately.

Kids spend more time online now than ever before, and that usage figures to increase in the coming years as the Internet becomes increasingly accessible. Parents should take steps to ensure their youngsters are safe when going online.

Local law enforcement stayed busy Saturday night with a string of back-to-back-to-back burglary attempts.

Now, authorities are looking for information to help them deal with the incidents.

The first of the burglaries was called in at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday night, for a house off of Wheeler Place in the Rock Ridge subdivision, according to Undersheriff Rich Valdez of the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office.

The full version of this story is available in the print edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100.

U.S. Marshals, with the help of Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office personnel, arrested a man Monday for sex offender-related offenses who has been evading capture for about five years.

According to ACSO Undersheriff Rich Valdez, the U.S. Marshals Service contacted the ACSO, indicating that a sex offender who had failed to register in New York state may be hiding out within the ACSO’s jurisdiction.

So, Monday, June 10, ACSO Det. Brandon Bishop accompanied the U.S. Marshals to an address in Aspen Springs Unit 6 where they believed the suspect was living, Valdez said.

At that address, Valdez explained, authorities determined that the man was living there, but was not home at the time. The authorities then searched the town and county, following up on leads, until they determined the suspect was working downtown, doing house renovations.

At that point, Valdez continued, Deputy John Martin was called to assist, the man was positively identified and was taken into custody without incident.

The man, Todd Paradise, 45, had been going by the alias Todd O’Hara, Valdez said, and was possibly in the area five years, though the exact time he has been in Archuleta County is unknown.

Paradise was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender in Colorado, with Valdez adding that potential charges of failing to register and grand larceny are pending out of New York state.

“It’s just nice to be able to work with the U.S. Marshals Service,” Valdez said, calling the agency “a great asset.”

Paradise is currently being held in the Archuleta County Detention Center without bond.

randi@pagosasun.com

Renderings courtesy ACSO
Artist renderings of two victims of a 1982 homicide. Authorities have tentatively identified the pair as Lori Gibson and Richard Miller.

Authorities are digging into an unsolved 1982 double homicide — literally.

In the near future, Archuleta County Sheriff Det. George Barter, with the help of the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, hopes to have one victim’s body exhumed in an attempt to obtain DNA samples for identification purposes.

He hopes exhumation of the second victim for the same purpose will follow.

The victims’ bodies were found along the banks of the San Juan River about a month apart in the fall of 1982, one found on each side of the Colorado-New Mexico border, about a mile from the Caracas Bridge.

Both victims are now buried in New Mexico, and much of the evidence in the case has been kept in New Mexico over the decades.

Present in that evidence was mitochondrial DNA, which is a general type of DNA useful in narrowing down to the female side of a person’s family.

However, Barter’s goal is to obtain nuclear DNA from the victims’ femurs. Nuclear DNA, Barter explained, is a more specific DNA, which he can then enter into the national Combined DNA Database (known as CODIS) in order to increase the chance of finding a DNA match to positively identify the victim(s).

The male, Barter said, is buried in the Bernalillo County portion of the Fairview Cemetery in Albuquerque.

That male victim, still officially a “John Doe,” has tentatively been identified as Richard Miller — something Barter hopes to confirm or reject through use of the test results.

But the timeline for the exhumation is unknown. Barter has been working to have the dig completed since April, but is at the mercy of OMI’s schedule.

“I think it could happen within a few weeks,” Barter said.

The cost for that exhumation, Barter said, is $1,700.

Following up with the exhumation of the female “Jane Doe,” tentatively identified as Lori Gibson, though, could be more difficult.

The female is buried in a church graveyard in Espanola, N.M., but the exact grave she is in is unknown, Barter said, adding that negotiations with the church are underway.

Into the Internet era

Beyond the search for additional DNA to test, the decades-old investigation is taking another modern turn — Facebook.

In April, Barter created Facebook pages for the victims, listed under their possible identities — Lori Gibson and Richard Miller.

Those Facebook profiles show the facial reconstructions of the pair, information about them, and photos related to the unsolved case.

Barter said new information will be added to the page over time.

The profiles can be found at www.facebook.com/lori.gibson.1610 and www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005668510400.

“I think the older it gets, the less chance there is,” Barter said of solving the case. “Now is the hot time.”

A case gone cold

After an initial investigation in 1982, the case of the double homicide went cold and untouched until a few years ago, when Barter took it on.

“The case lives, because I’m working on it,” Barter said.

Over the years, Barter has worked to retrieve the skulls out of museum storage in New Mexico and, with that evidence, had new facial reconstructions created.

In 2009, shortly after Barter reopened the case, an old, abandoned bus located off the beaten path in the area of Caracas was searched, with positive results: a long, narrow strip of carpet attached to the floor that tested positive in five places for blood, in addition to four .22 caliber shell casings found.

At the time, Barter said the presence of blood found soaked into the bus carpet meshed with a number of testimonies gathered after the murder.

About a year later, an old car believed to be related to the case was dug up in the area of Caracas (the car buried to serve as erosion control) and searched, with a few more belongings found.

Since 2009, Barter has completed numerous interviews in efforts to further the case.

More recently, Barter re-interviewed many of those named in police reports and other documents.

According to testimonies, a scuffle ensued inside the bus — possibly over a dope deal gone bad — that ultimately led to the man’s death and the death of his female companion.

According to bits of evidence patched together during the initial 1982 investigation and Barter’s reopening of the case in the spring of 2009, evidence shows the killer (or killers) shot John Doe at least twice with a .22 caliber weapon, and strangled Jane. After the murders, the killers dumped both bodies in the San Juan River and, later, John and Jane washed up on the river’s banks just west of the Caracas Bridge.

Archuleta County rancher Frank Chavez found the woman’s body Sept. 19, 1982, on an island in the river about a half mile west of the bridge and about 75 yards inside the New Mexico line.

Chavez said he was out looking for his livestock when he spotted Jane Doe’s foot protruding from beneath the silty river soil.

About a month later, on Oct. 22, Jerry Killough, of Grants, N.M., was walking with his two daughters along the northern bank of the San Juan — the Colorado side of the river — when they discovered John Doe’s body, badly decomposed and partially buried along the river bank.

Although John Doe’s body was almost completely skeletonized, the autopsy showed, in addition to gunshot wounds, that he suffered broken ribs before his death.

At the time, neither body was found with items that might provide law enforcement clues to the identities, and authorities were left with only basic descriptions derived from medical examiner reports.

The reports described Jane Doe as a 30-year-old white female, 5-5 tall, medium build with brown hair. At the time of her death, she was wearing Wrangler blue jeans, a blue quilted peasant jacket, a purple halter top blouse and two pieces of jewelry: a hollow gold heart necklace and a horn-shaped pendant.

Authorities found a sales slip in her pocket with the handwritten, almost illegible name of “Marilyn Cobraier” and a Farmington phone number. She also carried coins totaling $1.36.

Medical reports described John Doe as a powerfully built, 5-8 white male in his early 20s, with straight brownish-blond hair, a reddish beard and moustache. At the time of his death, John Doe wore Converse low-top tennis shoes, tan corduroy pants, and a T-shirt with “Lazy B Guest Ranch” printed on the front.

Medical examiners said both bodies were discovered about four to six weeks after the murders occurred.

According to Barter, law enforcement officers and investigators from Colorado and New Mexico worked the case for five years and what little evidence was found led officials to believe there was a link between the two murders. At the time, former Archuleta County Sheriff Neal Smith speculated that drugs or prostitution may have played a role in the victims’ demise.

Nevertheless, and despite numerous leads, interviews and five years of work, investigators came up empty-handed. Some close to the investigation say the operation faltered because of acrimony between district attorneys on either side of the state line.

Eventually, with no one actively working the case, files disappeared and key evidence was lost. To make matters worse, New Mexico had a 15-year statute of limitations on murder cases, giving New Mexico lawmen little incentive to pursue an investigation that could not lead to prosecution.

In Colorado, however, no such limitation exists, and a case that had gone cold for 27 years turned hot when Barter joined the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office full-time in February 2009.

Since then, and not hampered by Barter’s retirement from the ACSO, the search has continued.

Seeking information

Anyone who has additional information about the case is asked to contact Barter directly or Crime Stoppers.

Barter can be reached by calling 264-8541, e-mailing gbarter@archuletacounty.org, messaging Barter via either of the Facebook pages, or by contacting Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers can be reached by calling 264-2133, visiting www.pagosacrime.com, or by texting “ACCST” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

randi@pagosasun.com