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Pre-sentencing

Interview with Kyle, Randy, Tyler, Dave and Melissa

JM: Tell us about the pre-sentencing process:
Kyle: Once arrested and booked, I'd have to wait a business day or two to be arraigned. At the arraignment I would be read my charges or violations and asked to enter a plea. At that time the court would set a court date, usually a month out and ask if I had counsel or needed to be appointed counsel.
Randy: THERE BASICALLY WAS NONE, JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND THAT WAS IT. THEY REALLY DID NOT TALK TO ME MUCH BEFORE COURT OR AT PRE- SENTENCING. MOST OF THE INFO WAS GATHERED AFTER SENTENCING TO SET ME UP WITH PROBATION ETC. WHEN I WAS TOLD THE SENTENCE, I HAD ABOUT TWO MINUTES TO DECIDE.
Tyler: My bond and charges were combined in jail by video with the DA and Public Defender sitting at a table and the Judge on a video monitor presiding over the court and accepting reccemdations from the DA on bond and pre-trial stipulations on each case. Nearly all cases were a cash bond to ensure all would remain under control of the DA's office
Dave: THERE WAS REALLY NOT MUCH PRE SENTENCING PROCESS. THEY ASKED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF I HAD ANY OTHER CASES AND MY CONTACT INFO BUT THAT WAS ABOUT IT. ONCE I WAS SENTENCED, THEN THEY HAD A LOT MORE INTERVIEW AND PROCESSING FOR ME TO COMPLETE UNTIL THEY WOULD RELEASE ME
Melissa: I was released, there was no pre-sentencing or sentencing.

JM: Did you have police stop by your house for questioning? If not please give us details on how you came to be arrested.
Kyle: Some times yes and sometimes no. If I was being asked about a new charge or under investigation for something new, then yes they would stop by the house and if I was not present they would ask questions about me to whoever answered the door. They would also come by work or friends houses if they knew where to look. If I had already been charged then know they wouldn't come looking but would wait until my next court date to talk with me.
Randy: NO, WAS ASKED TO COME IN TO TALK TO A DETECTIVE FOR ONLY AN INTERVIEW ABOUT A TEXT I SENT. WHEN I MET HIM I WAS ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY. I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTACT ANYONE OR EXPLAIN MY SIDE OF THINGS AT ALL SO THE DETECTIVE BASICALLY MISINFORMED ME IN ORDER TO GET ME IN.
Tyler: I had recieved a call at work at the time. The officer wanted to meet somewhere in in Wheatridge, CO. The call came to my superviser and after I spoke to the officer I was pulled into my superviser's office to find out what was going on. I told him that I had no idea what this was about only that I had a fight with my girlfriend of 15yrs the night before. He said to take my own vechicle to find out what this was about so I did and met the officer in a aprking lot at 42nd and Wadsworth. I told him what happened and explained that she was just getting over organ failure and that sometimes when she combined pain medication and burbon that it didn't mix well. I thought that it was really not that big deal till I was asked to come to the station to answer a few more questions. I was not told that I was even being arrested till I was at the station and was advised of the charges which I was completely surprized.
Dave: NO THEY DID NOT COME TO THE HOUSE. I WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE BY A DETECTIVE AND HE ASKED IF I COULD COME IN TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE CASE. ONCE I SHOWED UP AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE DID NOT TALK TO ME, BUT JUST PUT ME UNDER ARREST
Melissa: No. I was arrested in Arapahoe County for a warrant that I did not know existed because warrants are not served for Misdemeanors until they run your name in a traffic stop or something similar. I was transferred to Jefferson County because the warrant was out of Jeffco.

JM: What was court like? Please give as many details as you recall.
Kyle: If I was coming off the streets I would have to pass through security, check for my name on the t.v. screens for which courtroom I was in, go to that courtroom and then check in with the bailiff. Then I would wait for my name to be called. Of course all the lawyer cases went first so it could be a few hours. If I was already locked up I would be taken to my courtroom in cuffs and shackles along with other inmates. We were sat in a certain section of the room and told not not make a noise, not to look at anyone in the crowd, and wait for my name to be called. We would also be advised from the DA what sentences they were going to recommend.
Randy: OTHER THAN THE D.A., EVERYONE WAS NICE, PROFESSIONAL AND THE BEST COURT I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN. THEY TREATED ME FAIRLY, THE JUDGE SEEMED TO CARE AND THE DEPUTIES WERE ACTUALLY VERY HELPFUL. AS I SAID THE ONLY DOWNFALL WAS THE D.A.WHO HAD NO INTEREST IN JUSTICE, HEARING THE REAL DETAILS OF THE MATTER ETC.
Tyler: The DA wanted to get the highest possible bond in my case despite I had no criminal past. At least the judge did take the reccemdation of the Public Defender to have the bond reduced but I thought it should have been much lower. We were brought in like cattle waiting to see our fate, or slaughtered like cattled.
Dave: I FOUND THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY, OTHER THAN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WAS ACTUALLY OFFENDER FRIENDLY. THE JUDGE SEEMED COURTEOUS AND TRIED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING AS DID THE PUBLIC DEFENDER. THE JAIL STAFF AND COURT STAFF WERE ALSO VERY NICE. THE DA BASICALLY WAS THE ONE DOWNFALL AS SHE WAS NOT AT ALL PLEASANT AND WAS THREATENING
Melissa: Your name is called in the Pod, you are let out of the locked door, and you walk yourself to the court area. Women and men are seated separately, and you are called into the actual court room alone, where you sit with the DA's representative and look at the Judge on a monitor. If you have a Laywer, your case will be called first, and the lawyer will be in the same room as the judge.

JM: What were your original charges? What did you end up being convicted of?
Kyle: My original charge Felony 3 - Escape from DOC . This sentence was to carry a penalty of 4-12 years DOC. I had actually run from ICCS, a Half-way House in Jefferson County where I had been sentenced as part of my Parole Plan. I was eventually pled down to Felony 5 - Attempted Escape. This carried a sentence of 1-3 years.
Randy: HARASSMENT BY TEXT. FINAL CHARGE WAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HARRASSMENT BY TEXT
Tyler: My charges were felonie menacing with 2nd degree batterie or domestic violence
Dave: HARASSMENT WAS THE ORIGINAL AND I ENDED UP WITH THREATS BY TELEPHONE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Melissa: Criminal Mischief, less than $500. Not convicted.

Read about sentencing in the Jefferson County Jail