April 19, 2002

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025

CHARGES FILED IN SEPARATE DEATHS

Formal charges have been filed in connection with the beating death of an 18-month-old boy on April 14, 2002.  The victim, Isaiah Beckett, was taken to Porter Hospital by his mother, and was later transferred to Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Ernie Lee Calbart (DOB: 5-20-81) is charged with first degree murder (F1), child abuse resulting in death (F2), and attempted escape (F5).  Calbart was the mother’s boyfriend.  The charges allege that Calbart tried to escape from detectives.

Virgil McFarlind  (aka McFarland) (DOB: 11-27-57) is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide (F3), six counts of vehicular assault (F4, F5) and DUI in connection with a fatal crash that occurred April 16, 2002 in the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Glencoe Street.  McFarlind was driving southbound on Glencoe Street at about 1:15 a.m. when he pulled in front of another vehicle traveling westbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard.  The driver of the other vehicle, Darrell Burton, was killed and three passengers were injured.

*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