December 8, 2011

SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Trooper’s ‘bias’ complicates DUI cases"

An internal Colorado State Patrol investigation found a now-former trooper submitted improper case reports and displayed “bias” during investigations, calling into question years of criminal cases in Mesa County involving the trooper, according to records obtained by The Daily Sentinel.

Donald Moseman was no longer employed by the State Patrol as of Dec. 1, according to a letter dated Dec. 5 from State Patrol Maj. Barry Bratt, District Four commander.

“As the letter makes clear, there are now significant credibility concerns relating to Trooper Moseman ...” Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger wrote in his own letter, distributed Wednesday to Grand Valley defense attorneys.

“Hundreds” of cases in Mesa County in which Moseman was the arresting or investigating officer were expected to be re-examined, some of them possibly dismissed altogether, Hautzinger said in an interview Wednesday.

“It’s a significant issue we need to deal with as proactively as possible,” Hautzinger said. “The State Patrol did a great job conducting the internal investigation and getting back to us rapidly.”

“Inconsistencies” involving Moseman’s case reports were brought to light by county court prosecutors in October, Hautzinger said. He declined to elaborate...."
(Paul Shockley)\

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