Public defenders for a second defendant in two weeks in 22nd Judicial District Court have claimed their clients were wrongfully regressed from a facility in Montrose.
Christopher A. Gonzales, 22, was in court for a resentencing hearing Thursday after being dismissed from ATC Montrose. He was sentenced in November to two concurrent two-year terms in community corrections after pleading guilty in a felony trespassing and menacing cases in June.
Another defendant, Jacob Kotarski, was in court Jan. 28 for a similar hearing after he was dismissed from ATC Montrose. Defender Kenneth Pace stated at that hearing that he believes Kotarski was removed from ATC based on false information.
He alleged one “bad actor” had been using names of other inmates in a credit card scheme. Judge Todd Plewe continued Kotarski’s hearing for two weeks.
During Gonzales’ hearing Thursday, defender John Moran alleged the individual at ATC Montrose had bought pizzas on a credit card using names of other inmates.
“I believe I was victimized while being there,” Gonzales said.
Judge Douglas Walker agreed to a two-week continuance.
Gonzales will return Feb. 21. Kotarski was to be in court on Monday.
sdolan@the-journal.com