DENVER—After deliberating for approximately two and a half hours on Friday, A Denver jury found Christopher Smith (age 40) guilty of murder in the second degree. On June 23, 2020 the Denver District Attorney announced charges had been filed against Smith in connection with an incident at the National Western Complex. During the COVID-19 pandemic…

Investigation and Decision Re May 19, 2021 Shooting of Raul Rosas-Zarsosa DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann’s legal review of the officer-involved shooting of 52-year old Raul Rosas-Zarsosa that occurred on May 19, 2021 on Federal Boulevard at Harvard Avenue in Denver is complete. DA McCann concluded that the shooting was legally justified and that no…

DENVER— Denver District Attorney Beth McCann has charged a former Colorado Department of Transportation employee, Aaron Victor Ceja, (age 48) with stealing more than $770,000 from CDOT between 2011 and 2020. While employed as a CDOT project manager, prosecutors allege that Ceja made unauthorized purchases of items including gift cards, camping gear and video equipment…

DENVER—What began as a dispute between neighbors over the use of a shared alley on June 17, 2020 escalated into the shooting death of 46-year old Fernando Martinez-Briones. On Monday afternoon, after deliberating for approximately three and a half hours, a Denver jury found 76-year old Lessie Britton guilty of Martinez-Briones’ murder. “Lessie Britton killed…

DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann today announced that Tyler Tysdal (age 50) pleaded guilty in two separate financial crime cases filed against him by prosecutors with her office’s Economic Crimes Unit. Tysdal will be sentenced on January 21, 2022 and is facing concurrent prison sentences of up to eight years. He is also expected to…

DENVER—Rita Desjardine was 36-years old when her body was found in a Denver motel room the morning of December 7, 1994. Today, prosecutors with the Denver District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit announced that Steven Cumberbatch (currently 58-years old) is charged with her murder. He was extradited from Virginia and is now in Denver to…

DENVER—After deliberating for approximately five hours, a Denver jury late Wednesday found 52-year old Byron Whitehorn guilty of sexually assaulting four women. In 2019 Whitehorn was charged by prosecutors with the Denver District Attorney’s Office with eight counts of sexual assault (F4). Whitehorn targeted young women as they exited LoDo bars. He would offer his…

DENVER—Prior to the resumption of the trial this morning for closing arguments, the presiding judge notified the parties and the jury that the defendant, Randall Butler, had taken his life earlier this morning. In response to this development, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann issued the following statement. “We are sorry that this trial ended in…

DENVER— On April 25, 2021, a man in a Subaru Crosstrek pointed a rifle at another person in a Subaru WRX at 10th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in Denver. Today, prosecutors are renewing the call for the victims of that incident to come forward. A 44-year-old male, former Colorado law enforcement officer has been charged…

DENVER—Denver District Attorney Beth McCann and Assistant District Attorney Maggie Conboy will be in court today in a case they are prosecuting against former Lakewood Police Department Officer Randall Shaun Butler (age 39). Butler is charged with two counts of sexual assault (F4) for an incident that allegedly occurred the night of November 16, 2018,…