January 14, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

CHARGES FILED IN FATAL STABBING

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has formally charged a Denver teenager as an adult in connection with the fatal stabbing of a high school student last week.

Marcus Richardson (DOB: 05-17-88) is charged as an adult with second-degree murder (F2) and possession of a weapon on school grounds (F6).

Richardson was involved in an altercation with 17-year-old Contrell Townsend on January 4, 2005 in the cafeteria at Montbello High School.  Townsend was stabbed during the altercation and later died at Denver Health Medical Center.  Richardson surrendered to police a short time later and has been in custody at the Gilliam Youth Center.

Richardson will be transferred to the Denver County Jail and is now scheduled to appear in Denver District Court Division 23 on January 24, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. to be advised of the charges against him.

The presumptive range for sentencing on a class two felony is up to 48 years in prison; the range for a class six felony is up to 18 months in prison.

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