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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Tag: Aurora

  • Repeat child rapist from Aurora sentenced to prison

    Repeat child rapist from Aurora sentenced to prison

    An Aurora man received a sentence of 12 years to life in prison for raping two Aurora girls in 2018.

    Arapahoe District Court Judge Andrew Baum sentenced Ble Ghislain Kore, 25, after a jury convicted him Dec. 10, 2019. He was found guilty of sexual assault – use of force (Class 3 felony) and sexual assault – overcoming a victim’s will (Class 4 felony). On Feb. 27 Baum imposed a sentence of 12 years to life on the Class 3, and 6 years to life on the Class 4, to be served concurrently.

    “Kore is the Webster’s definition of ‘predator.’ He went to a school looking for innocent victims to satisfy his sexual urges. He plucked one girl, then another, off the street. And he raped both of them. Same day,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “No sentence would have been too long for what he did. I am impressed with the courageous victims here. Without them, we may not have been able to hold this repeat rapist accountable.”

    On Sept. 13, 2018, the defendant approached a juvenile walking home from Overland High School. He approached the victim saying to get into his car, as he knew who she was and that he had someone watching her mother. Concerned for her mom, she got in the car and he drove to the guest parking lot of her apartment complex where he raped her. She was scared because he knew where she lived.

    Later that afternoon, the defendant drove up to another juvenile walking in the parking lot at Overland High School and asked for her phone number. When she tried to walk away, he demanded she get in his car. He drove her to another parking lot near the school and raped her.

    The two victims did not know the defendant or each other.

    The Aurora Police Department investigated the incidents and connected them due to the similar descriptions of the car and defendant. In addition, the DNA of the defendant was found on both juveniles.

    “This defendant is the monster of every parent’s nightmares,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Danielle Jaramillo, who prosecuted the case with Senior Deputy District Attorney Jake Adkins. “He specifically targeted children.”

    Jaramillo asked for maximum sentences served consecutively, making the prison time 18 years to life.

    “Both of these girls are survivors – they are brave and courageous,” she said in her sentencing argument. “Trial is a horrible thing for them to go through, and these girls deserve justice.”

     

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  • Aurora armed robber sentenced to 50 years in prison

    A convicted felon who committed three armed robberies — shooting a store clerk during one – was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

    Arapahoe County District Court Judge Darren Vahle on Feb. 7 sentenced Stephen Gregory Jones, 24, of Aurora, after a jury convicted him Dec. 11 of 12 counts including attempted second-degree murder.

    “Another multiple-time convicted felon is allowed back onto our streets through a parole system focused more on emptying our prisons than protecting the public. The result is a violent spree of armed robberies that ends in gunfire … of course, this repeat felon gets a gun,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “As our legislature continues to lessen the consequences for criminal conduct and to find ways to find ways to keep offenders — even repeat offenders — in our neighborhoods, Coloradans should know that our system lacks the resources to adequately supervise them. That leaves us less safe and more vulnerable to the lawless.”

    On March 15, 2018, a man pulled a gun and robbed Aurora Plaza Liquors, 677 N Peoria St. in Aurora. On March 16, 2018, a similar robbery occurred at Dandy Discount Liquors, 12507 E Mississippi Ave.

    A few hours later, an armed robbery took place at Village East Grocery, 1161 S Peoria St. The suspect hit a female clerk in the head with a handgun and shot her in the leg.

    An employee at a nearby barbershop heard screams and gunshots. He went to his car to get his own licensed handgun.

    While at his car, the employee saw the suspect in the parking lot. The suspect threatened the barbershop employee and began rummaging in the employee’s car. The employee fired his gun at the suspect, who fired back and ran away.

    Aurora police located the suspect waiting for a taxi nearby; he had been shot in the face. He was identified as Jones, and evidence tied him to the two previous armed robberies.

    Jones had been convicted of felonies four times previously. He was on parole to community corrections when he committed his most recent crimes.

    Senior Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard tried the case with Deputy District Attorney Arielle Dean.

    “Over the last decade this defendant has continued to escalate his criminal behavior, showing no regard for the law or safety of others,” said Storgaard. “While on parole, he was supposed to be reintegrating into society from his latest prison sentence. But instead he took that opportunity to victimize more innocent people and nearly killed one of them. This sentence ensures the community will be safe from him for the foreseeable future.”

    The jury convicted Jones of the following counts:

    • Attempted second-degree murder
    • 5 counts aggravated robbery
    • First-degree assault
    • Second-degree assault
    • Automobile trespass
    • Theft
    • False reporting
    • Possession of a weapon by a previous offender

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  • Man sentenced for murdering Aurora father of 4

    A man who shot and killed his Aurora host was sentenced Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

    Arapahoe County District Court Judge Andrew Baum sentenced Marquez Woodruff, 18, for the death of Terry Capler. Woodruff was just shy of his 17th birthday when he killed Capler, making him eligible for parole after 40 years. Capler was 36 years old when he was killed in his Aurora home.

    “You made horrific choices with devastating consequences,” Baum told Woodruff.

    A jury convicted Woodruff on Sept. 25 of first-degree murder in Capler’s death.

    “Our legislature now has made it possible for a remorseless, cold-blooded, near-17 year-old to murder another person by shooting him four times and still be eligible to be on our streets again before the killer is 42 years old. Here, the innocent Mr. Capler will be dead forever,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Make no mistake, this killer is not required to serve anywhere near 40 years. And he likely will not. He will be allowed to apply for a special program for those juveniles who have earned long sentences through murder, and — if successfully completed — he will be presumed safe to return to our communities. This is no joke. This is our law. The Capler family deserved better. Future victims deserve better. Colorado deserves better.”

    On Dec. 16, 2017, Capler’s roommate called Aurora police to report Capler had been shot.

    Victim Terry Capler

    Police came to the home in the 1400 block of North Clinton Street and found Capler dead in the living room. The coroner determined Capler had been shot in the head and torso.

    The roommate told police he had used Capler’s car to pick up a couple with whom Capler was friends and bring them to Capler’s house. He picked up Woodruff and Woodruff’s girlfriend.

    The four spent time in the home together that evening, drinking alcohol and consuming drugs. For no apparent reason, Woodruff pulled out his gun and repeatedly fired at Capler at very close range. Woodruff and his girlfriend fled the home. The roommate hid in a bedroom and eventually called the police.

    Aurora Police found Woodruff and his girlfriend by tracking the phone they used to text with Capler that night.

    “Woodruff took no accountability for his decisions then and takes no accountability for Capler’s death now. In 2017, he carried a loaded gun, got high on cocaine and other drugs, and ran after shooting Terry Capler four times at very close range. He never reported the shooting – police had to find him using cell phone records,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Amy Ferrin, who tried the case with Deputy District Attorney Zoe Laird. “After testifying at trial and claiming self-defense, the defendant how claims he can’t remember anything, including the trial. His lack of remorse and unwillingness to take accountability shock the conscience.”

    Capler had four children. They had messages for the judge during sentencing, along with Capler’s parents, his sister, his twin brother and others who were close to him.

    “Terry was taken away from so many who loved him by a callous young man with no empathy or remorse,” one member of the extended family said.

    Capler’s sister told the judge, “Terry was the glue that helped keep my family together.”

    Capler’s only daughter was in the courtroom. “I lost my dad, my best friend, my rock, and my greatest supporter,” she told the judge through her tears. The defendant “took the heart from my chest.”

     

    Marquez Woodruff, 18

     

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  • Colorado National Guard aviation battalion mobilizing three units

    Colorado National Guard aviation battalion mobilizing three units

    CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado National Guard Soldiers from Company A, Company D and Headquarters-Headquarters Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion 135th Aviation Regiment will be honored at a departure ceremony on Buckley Air Force Base Jan. 2, 2020, at 3 p.m.

    Family, friends and dignitaries will gather at the at the Chief Warrant Officer 5 David R. Carter Army Aviation Support Facility on Buckley AFB, in Aurora, Colorado, to bid a farewell to approximately 130 Soldiers as they prepare to depart for a yearlong deployment to Southwest Asia.

    “These warriors are trained and ready to provide support to troops on the ground and will excel at any mission that comes their way,” the Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said. “The commitment of these Soldiers, as well as their families and employers, should make all Coloradans proud.”

    Based out of Buckley AFB, in Aurora, the 2-135th GSAB will conduct air movement, air assault, casualty evacuation, combat support and combat service support for aviation operations throughout the designated area of responsibility to employ and sustain combat power.

    Civic Leaders from throughout Colorado, hosted by the Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Loh, depart for Public Affairs travel to observe F-16 training at the CONG’s Airburst Range, near Fort Carson, Colorado.
    (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Maj. Darin Overstreet)

    The units also support civil authorities annually during wildfire response efforts and save an average to 20 lives annually through mountain search and rescue missions.

    One year ago today, Company B, Detachment 1,  2-135th GSAB, the CONG’s heavy lift aviation unit operating CH-47 Chinook helicopters, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.  

     

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  • 160 years in prison for killing one, wounding another in Aurora

    160 years in prison for killing one, wounding another in Aurora

    A 25-year-old career criminal was sentenced to 160 years in prison for killing one man and trying to kill another.

    Joseph Allen Collins Jr. was ruled a habitual offender and the maximum sentences for the two shootings was multiplied. A jury convicted Collins in September of second-degree murder in the death of Zachary Robinson of Aurora, who was 22 when Collins shot and killed him. Collins was also convicted of attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of Robinson’s friend, who was also 22. The friend survived. Both of the victims were unarmed.

    On June 25, 2018, Robinson and his friend were cutting through a common area of an apartment complex at 2095 S. Paris Way in Aurora. It was the middle of a hot summer afternoon, with numerous witnesses outside nearby. Collins and two of his friends were with them. A brief disagreement broke out. Collins pulled out a gun and shot Robinson and Robinson’s friend.

    Robinson’s friend ran to a nearby business for help. Collins and his two friends fled. Despite efforts of people who rushed to render assistance, Robinson was dead.

    “By age 25, this career criminal had racked up multiple felony convictions, repeatedly and illegally possessed firearms, failed at numerous attempts at supervision and rehabilitation, all before murdering another human being and shooting yet another. The system did not fail this miscreant. He chose to fail society. We build prisons to protect our community from this lawless, evil behavior,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “With our convoluted sentencing system, ever weakened by a legislature that thinks every criminal deserves ten chances to re-offend, maybe—just maybe, this killer will not get yet another chance to victimize someone in our neighborhoods.”

    Robinson’s family steadfastly attended court hearings, and both his mother and father addressed the court during sentencing on Dec. 17. Robinson’s father called Collins a coward; Robinson’s mother told the judge her heart was “broken into a million pieces.”

    “This defendant chose to obtain a weapon illegally. He chose to pull it out, point it and shoot two unarmed men multiple times,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Victoria Klingensmith, who prosecuted the case. “Defendants who continue to reoffend like this should not be in our community.”

    “This was a grave and serious offense that will forever impact the survivor and the family of the victim,” said Deputy District Attorney Meghan Gallo, who was on the case with Klingensmith. “Nothing can repair what he did, but this sentence does show that justice can be done.”

    In addition to the two murder counts, Collins was convicted of:

    • two counts of felony menacing
    • possession of a weapon by a previous offender

    The Arapahoe County District Court judge sentenced Collins to 96 years for killing Robinson and 64 years for trying to kill his friend, to be served consecutively. Sentences on the other counts run concurrent.

     

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  • Stride into 2020 with a First Day Hike

    Stride into 2020 with a First Day Hike

    DENVER — Colorado Parks & Wildlife is ringing in the new year by again participating in America’s State Parks First Day Hikes on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

    More than 30 events have been slated at state parks across Colorado, with opportunities for people of all ages.

    Dan Prenzlow, director of Parks & Wildlife, said the First Day Hikes have become increasingly popular as a way to spend time in nature with friends and family.

    “What better way to celebrate than with a nice park stroll and a hot cup of cocoa?” he said. “We’ll see you out there!”

    Coloradans can find First Day Hikes of varying distances and levels of difficulty by visiting cpw.state.co.us. The choices include organized hikes with experienced naturalists as well as self-led walks. Bikers and horseback riders can also participate, and visitors can also anticipate sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating and cross-country skiing opportunities. Snowshoes, fat bikes and ice fishing equipment are available at certain parks.

     

    Locally, hikes are planned at both Cherry Creek and Barr Lake state parks. Barr Lake will offer an easy, three-mile hike from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many species of birds including bald eagles can be observed on the hike and spotting scopes will be available. Dogs are welcome.

    Participants should meet at the Barr Lake Nature Center, 13401 Picadilly Road, Brighton. For more information, call (303)659-6005 or e-mail to .

    Cherry Creek State Park will host a guided hike from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting at the Campground Office, 4201 S. Parker Road, Aurora. No dogs are allowed at Cherry Creek.

    For more information, call (303)766-6562.

    All hikes are free of charge but a valid park pass is required.

    First Day Hikes is a national program created more than 25 years ago to encourage healthy lifestyles and stewardship of natural resources through outdoor recreation. According to the National Association of State Park Directors, more than 72,700 people across the nation joined guided First Day Hikes in 2019, collectively hiking more than 150,000 miles.

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