July 13, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

MAN SENTENCED FOR ROBBERIES

A man known for a series of purse snatchings and other robberies, including one in which a shoe-store salesperson was shot in the leg, has been sentenced.

Jesse Barajas (DOB: 12-15-68) was found guilty of robbery of an at-risk adult (F3) and robbery (F4) earlier this year.  He was sentenced to 224 years in prison when he appeared before Denver District Judge Larry J. Naves on July 13, 2005. 

In April 2003, Barajas robbed a 59-year-old woman of her purse in a store parking lot.  The robbery led to a chase and his arrest.  Denver Police connected him with at least five other purse snatchings involving older women in the Denver area.

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The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  See Colo. RPC 3.6