In custody on a $10,000 bond, Dennis Altamirano, 25, of Mancos, admitted to violating probation in connection to a 2012 felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was sentenced to time served.
A public defender argued that the case was a “miscarriage of justice,” stating Altamirano now had a felony conviction on his record for buying alcohol to share with his underage girlfriend.
Understanding of the defense argument, the court said the defendant made a poor choice to “blow off probation.”
Drunken driver faces drug court screening
At a probation revocation hearing, the court ordered that Amador Begaye, 33, of Cortez, be screened for drug court. Begaye was previously kicked out of DUI court because of meth use, a probation officer said. The hearing was continued to Dec. 10.
Convicted of vehicular assault and DUI, Begaye previously served 60 days in jail in connection to a 2014 Fourth of July drunken driving crash on Colorado 145. A passenger suffered a traumatic brain injury and lacerations to internal organs.
Mental evaluation put on hold
In custody on misdemeanor alcohol charges since Sept. 4, Clarence Carr, 52, of Cortez, will remain behind bars after state officials advised that a mental health evaluation couldn’t be conducted until February.
After concerns about due process and a speedy trial were raised by the defense, the court agreed to make arrangements with the sheriff’s office to transport Carr for an outpatient mental health evaluation.
Charged with two counts of felony menacing stemming from an incident in August, Carr’s arraignment hearing was continued until Dec. 10.
Criminal mischief case ends in jail time
At a probation revocation hearing, Ketterson Harvey, 39, of Cortez, was sentenced to 90 days in jail after admitting that he violated probation in connection to a 2011 criminal mischief case.
After receiving a deferred judgment and sentence, Harvey reportedly left the state without permission, and his whereabouts were unknown.
The criminal mischief case was reportedly connected to a DUI stop. Authorities alleged that children were inside the defendant’s automobile when he rammed an officer’s vehicle.
Court issues three bench warrants
A bench warrant was issued for Giovani Menendez, 20, of Blanding, Utah, after he failed to appear for arraignment on multiple charges. Out of custody after posting a $5,000 bond, the defendant was arrested and charged on Aug. 19 with assaulting police, resisting arrest, burglary, trespassing, criminal mischief, violating bond conditions and violating a protection order. In a separate incident on Aug. 8, Menendez was arrested and charged with assaulting a pregnant woman, assaulting police, obstruction and criminal mischief.
A bench warrant was issued for Cheyanne Maslen, 26, of Dolores, after she failed to appear for arraignment on two counts of drug distribution and four counts of child abuse in connection to incidents that occurred in April. The judge advised a defense attorney that Department of Human Services might be called.
Maslen was out of custody after posting a $30,000 bond.
A bench warrant was issued for Terry Emmons, 29, address unknown, after he failed to appear for a revocation hearing. Emmons was sentenced in March to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to violating probation in connection to a 2013 auto trespassing conviction.
Unemployed at the time, Emmons had planned to apply for a job at Walmart, but instead stole a purse from a vehicle in the store’s parking lot.
Meth user accepts plea deal
Jason Rose, 34, of Dolores, will be sentenced in January after pleading guilty to drug possession charges connected to his arrest in September. Five misdemeanor charges remain pending in county court.
The plea deal includes a deferred judgment and 24 months of supervised probation. A meth user, Rose will also be screened for drug court.
A $5,000 bond was reduced to $1,000.
DUI suspect pleads not guilty
A February trial date was set for Rodney Hatch, 56, of Towaoc, after he pleaded not guilty to felony DUI. The defense is expected to file a suppression motion regarding the Oct. 3 traffic stop over a broken taillight. Out of custody after posting a $5,000 bond, Hatch also is charged with driving with a revoked license and lack of insurance.
Fugitive waives extradition to Ohio
In custody since an arrest on Nov. 9, Derrick Allmon, 26, waived extradition to Ohio on unknown charges.
Tobie Baker