April 20, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Pitkin County judge removes herself from drunken-driving case"

Now, after a morning in our law enforcement and military section, of fair and balanced reports from other media,  let's drop in on the crime reporting up on the Aspen Times and close off that portion of our morning posting.

What, they are so closet ashamed of themselves up on the Times that they can't even put a byline to the articles on Paul Pedersen anymore? 

This now makes the second "Staff Report" since they started getting a little heat from the public in commentary over the seedy, stalkarazzi style coverage of Pedersen. 

Hmmmmm.....now, who was that reporter that tried to grab some of the Aspen Daily's spotlight over breaking the FBI probe story?

....news flash....news flash...breaking news...news flash...hmmm, that was Rick Carroll, editor of the Aspen Times, wasn't it?....news flash...news flash...breaking news...

Shouldn't the headline be 'alleged' drunken driving?  At least show that much class. 

It isn't the fact that SandBox and followers support law enforcement on all that is going on regarding drugs, etc. in the Aspen area. 

We roundup, spin and comment on the content of the reports.  This isn't about one upsmanship between agencies or media outlets, including this one.

The entire Valley is used to the Times being the only outlet for the Pitkin County Sheriff's Dept, Pitkin County and City of Aspen as their preferred choice. 

 And are also aware of the obvious reasons why. 

What is so sad, is that they cannot see that maybe they all have lost the last window they had years ago, to correct serious error in their performances of service and duty by choosing to censor their content to the public; now, years later, they've completely lost touch with the public. 

Interesting choice by former Sheriff Bob Braudis and now followed by his successor, Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo.

What a shame that the only way the Aspen Times can 'sell' their crime reporting is to seed it with 'gonzo' journalism. 

Aspen Times "Staff Report":
"ASPEN — Pitkin County Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely filed court papers Wednesday indicating that she has disqualified herself from presiding over the drunken-driving case of a former Glenwood Springs police officer.

Fernandez-Ely became the third judge in the 9th Judicial District to be removed from the case. Previously, judges Paul Metzger in Glenwood Springs and Jonathan Pototsky in Rifle recused themselves, citing a conflict of interest and sending the case to Pitkin County.

But with Fernandez-Ely now removed, it is unclear who will preside over the case against Paul Pedersen, 39, of Silt.

Garfield County sheriff's deputies stopped Pedersen outside Silt on Jan. 15. Pedersen also has been charged with prohibited use of weapons in addition to having an open container of alcohol and failing to drive in a single lane.

He resigned from the Glenwood Springs Police Department on Feb. 29. Pedersen also was a member of the Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team and worked on assignment with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, including its investigation that resulted in the 2011 breakup of a cocaine ring that spanned between Los Angeles and Aspen.

His attorney, Lawson Wills, of Snowmass Village, could not be reached for comment Thursday."
(Read original staff press release?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

2 comments:

FCL said...

Can these tabloid rags get any more disgusting than they already are? Have to wonder why so many are excusing themselves.

Could it possibly be that they have a problem with the entire charging? If he was DUI then it's a simple DUI. A human being who made a mistake, but watch now while they massacre his life to where he can't get it back.

Good to see Lawson has this. Since leaving the prosecutor's office, coming to the realization shortly after that support of DA Beeson is not the thing that needed to be done, he's turned into one of our best criminal defense lawyers.

Thank you should be going out to the Aspen Daily and Sentinel for not covering this story. Funny how that works too, isn't it? They don't put up ink on any of these kinds of cases. Good for them and the higher ethics standard.

Thank you to former officer Paul Pedersen for all of his work over the years battling the drug problems in the valley.

sumfu said...

They're incapable of feeling shame. This is news worthy?