February 14, 2012

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Richard Cohen "Obama in denial about American influence"

Richard Cohen:
"To a man (almost), the Republican presidential candidates talk of an America and an American role that no longer exist. In apparent response, the president talks of a role cut and pasted from a magazine and claims a policy, outlook and demeanor that haven’t been his. America may or may not be in decline, but until recently, Obama has certainly been in denial...."
(Read the rest?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Dept of Defense "Combined Force Captures 2 Taliban Leaders"

"KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 14, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force captured two Taliban leaders and a suspected insurgent during an operation in the Maidan Shar district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province today, military officials reported.

Both captured Taliban leaders directed attacks against Afghan government officials, and acquired and built improvised explosive devices for use in attacks, officials said...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "In other court news"

Chad Abraham:
"....In other court news, Nichols agreed with a county court judge that the Aspen prosecutor’s office had attempted to harass a local man.

The judge refused to accept the filing of a felony count of assault of a police officer against Alex Velasquez, 37.

Velasquez was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest after Snowmass Village police said he pummeled a drinking buddy near a bank on Feb. 10, 2011. In the arrest affidavit, Snowmass police Sgt. Brian Olson wrote that Velasquez, when confronted, pushed police officer Franz Zedlacher in the chest.

On Aug. 4, the day before a trial was scheduled for Velasquez, prosecutors attempted to have the misdemeanor case dismissed, and Mordkin the same day filed the felony count in Pitkin County District Court. Regarding his office’s effort to dismiss the county case, Mordkin told Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely of Pitkin County Court on Aug. 5 that he first learned only the previous day of the alleged shoving of the officer, prompting the filing of the felony.

Fernandez-Ely, however, ruled that the grounds for the filing of “felony charges existed at the time of the arrest, on Feb. 10, 2011,” she wrote. “Waiting until the eve of trial was not warranted.”

Mordkin’s decision to charge the defendant with a felony resulted in Velasquez being rousted around 2 a.m. from his camping site on Aug. 5 and arrested.

“The court finds that this harsh procedure was designed to harass and intimidate the defendant,” Fernandez-Ely ruled.

Monday, Nichols agreed, and she apologized to Velasquez on behalf of the court system.

“This whole thing has been done wrong,” Nichols said.

Prosecutors never stated the “good cause” needed in the process involved in dismissing a lower-court case in favor of a felony filing, the judge said.

Nichols said it was “totally ridiculous” that Velasquez has had to report to two differ ent court jurisdictions since his arrest.

“At your expense, we have all learned a lot,” the judge said.

Velasquez is due back in county court March 6....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Defense attorney likely to pounce on police mistake in drug bust case"

It's an unfortunate choice of wording in the headline. 

How about:  "Local man has charge dismissed because he didn't commit the crime they said he did" ?  What does the defense attorney have to do with the charge being dismissed? 

If the resulting charges elsewhere have merit, he will stand trial without the 'pounce' from a defender.  Hopefully, he will have all of his constitutional rights to full defense upheld as is rightful given his status as an American citizen.

Thank you goes out to the Aspen Police Dept. for their honesty.  You are appreciated and you are applauded for stepping up.

Maybe all the shouting out that locals have been doing for the past 5 to 6 years,  that they have serious concerns that our cops are being turned more into agents for prosecutors than doing their sworn duty to serve and protect the citizenry is really being listened to.

Thank you also goes out to Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin and Chief Public Defender Tina Fang for swiftly going to the heart of the matter instead of dragging any issues out into the public arena at ultimately taxpayer expense.  Maybe there will be some long-term positive changes that really will come out of the current election cycle here in 9th Judicial.  You are both appreciated. 

Chad Abraham:
"...Fang argued for Simmons’ bond to be reduced to $10,000. Simmons, in previous criminal cases he has faced, has never failed to appear for a court hearing, she said.

“He is a long-term resident of the valley and is the sole caretaker of his mother,” who has medical issues, Fang said. “He’s a very instrumental part of her life.”

She also said he is not a risk to flee the area ahead of a possible trial, as “he has no contacts anywhere else, [and] there’s simply nowhere else for him to go,” Fang said.

Mordkin objected to any reduction in bond. Simmons, facing mandatory prison time if he’s convicted, is an “enormous flight risk,” Mordkin said.

“The bail [amount] was appropriate when we set it, and we believe that it’s appropriate now,” he said.

Nichols, who is familiar with Simmons from a previous case, said she believes that he does care for his mother. She also noted that his work history shows he is responsible and will likely show up for court dates.

She kept his bond at $50,000 but set its terms as “cash surety” instead of cash only, making it easier for Simmons to get the help of a bondsman to get out of jail.

Simmons’ next court date is March 5.

Mordkin declined to discuss the police department’s mistake in the tampering case, saying it will come out in expected pretrial motion hearings.

At least one of those hearings will likely involve a motion by Fang to suppress evidence found as a result of the tampering warrant.

Mordkin also declined to say whether officers were apologetic when they told him Friday about the misidentification.

“They did the right thing,” he said. “I think they should be applauded....”
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "DEA: Montgomery Chitty, former Aspen resident, had role in local cocaine ring"

From the looks in 'the mailbox' this morning, there are quite a few area residents who are nodding their heads in agreement.

"Keep digging..now you're getting in...more power and big money to go....stay the course"

Chad Abraham:
"A former Aspen man and national political consultant was arrested Monday in Florida for allegedly playing a role in a drug ring that streamlined kilos of cocaine to the upper Roaring Fork Valley.

Montgomery Chitty, 60, described in one book as a longtime friend of the late Hunter S. Thompson, faces one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

The charge arises out of a year-long federal investigation into a Los Angeles-to-Aspen cocaine operation that resulted in the grand jury indictments of 10 people, including six from the Aspen area. Seven people arrested in May have since pleaded guilty as a result of plea agreements.

On Dec. 13, a federal grand jury in Denver returned a one-count indictment against Chitty.

A 2009 article in the Aspen Daily News described Chitty as a longtime political pundit and a former consultant to the Democratic National Committee. He was also Thompson’s longtime friend, according to “Outlaw Journalist” by William McKeen.

Newspaper archives show he also wrote letters to the editor decrying developers and various projects.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested Chitty in Big Pine Key, Fla., says a press release from the U.S. attorney’s office.

Chitty appeared in U.S. District Court in Key West, Fla., on Monday, and was being held without bond...."
(Read more?  Click title?)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Denver Channel "2 Arrested For Allegedly Making Illegal IDs In Eagle County"

More detailed coverage than what we recieved locally on the recent bust in Carbondale.

How long now has the general population known that these forged immigration documents are readily available in our area? 

How long now have local small businesses been aware that the biggest facilitators of these documents are our local temp services that primarily supply the construction industry and day labor to McMansions?

How long now have regional avatars in commentary been chatting up tips for cops and ICE on this?

Too long.

Glad to hear that the anonymous tip that led to these arrests in Carbondale didn't fall on deaf ears.

Thank you to all the agencies and officers participating in this bust, now stay the course and do more because there are more out there. 

Including their enablers. 

But a very special thank you goes to 'Anonymous'.  You rock.

(Read the article?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Film on child sex trade to be shown Wednesday"

John Colson:

"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The recent arrest of suspects accused of running a child prostitution ring using motel rooms in Glenwood Springs was viewed by local victim advocates as a call to action.

A story in the Jan. 31 Post Independent reported the metro-Denver-based child prostitution ring operated in Denver, Lakewood, Boulder, Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs.
In the wake of that revelation, the Childhelp River Bridge agency is showing documentary film “The Playground,” about the child sex industry in the U.S.

In addition to showing the film, the event will feature a panel of experts, including psychotherapist and film producer Gayle Embrey of Carbondale, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and others who will talk about the trade and answer questions.

“We live in a resort area and on the I-70 corridor, which makes us, as a community, more susceptible to this kind of crime,” said Lee Martin, victim advocate with Childhelp River Bridge.

The film was made by documentary filmmaker Libby Spears, and co-produced by actors George Clooney and Grant Heslov, along with producer Steven Soderbergh.

“This is not the first incident [in this area],” Embrey said of the recent bust. She also assisted with the documentary film. “These traffickers are really predators, looking at homeless and poor kids.”
She said in her work as a therapist she has encountered girls who reported being enticed by men to have sex. One case involved young girls in Carbondale, she said....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Hypo seeking more than $368 million from Base Village developer"

And when does it become a criminal act for these foreign lenders to prey on these developments, such as Base Village and Dancing Bear, with acts of tortious interference?

Chad Abraham:
"...Related officials have said, in essence, that they stopped paying back the loans because Hypo and the other banks halted additional funding amid the recession. That precluded the possibility of profits from Base Village that could have been used to pay the Hypo consortium back.

“By reason of Base Village [Owner’s] default, Hypo, as allowed by the loan and security agreement ... declared the entire unpaid principal balance of the notes due and payable, together with default interest accrued ...,” the lawsuit says.

Hypo, represented by the Aspen law firm of Klein, Coté & Edwards, says that when it foreclosed on the project in 2010, Base Village Owner owed at least $507.28 million, including accrued interest and other loan-related expenses. Minus the $138 million foreclosure bid price, the defendant owes $368.28 million, according to the lawsuit.

Related Colorado spokesman Steve Alldredge declined comment Monday, saying his firm had not seen the lawsuit.

Lawsuits in New York, where Related is based, are in pretrial evidence phases, he said...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Occupancy for Aspen/Snowmass a mixed bag"

via Aspen Daily News:
"...Next weekend is expected to be busy — occupancies are anticipated to be in excess of 85 percent in both Aspen and Snowmass, according to Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, a local central reservations booking agency. That’s partially the result of President’s Day week coinciding with the Brazilian holiday, Carnival.  Beyond that week, occupancies for the last week of February and the first week of March are pacing behind last year, according to Tomcich...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Odds and ends …"



All credit:  Bob Berwyn:

"SUMMIT COUNTY — Doing a bit of housecleaning in the Summit Voice archives, I found a few images worth posting as a sort of rummage-drawer photo essay, including the stunning NASA satellite shot of the Earth. Notable in the above image is the lack of winter snow cover across North America. If you like what you see, visit our online gallery at RedBubble, where you can buy a cool Summit County calender, prints and greeting cards.