Denver Pilot Program Will Address Low-Level Drug and Prostitution Crimes

DENVER—Denver officials today announced the launch of an innovative pilot program to address low-level drug and prostitution crimes: the national LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program. Rather than being arrested, incarcerated and prosecuted, LEAD-trained Denver Police officers will redirect people facing substance use and/or prostitution charges to case management and community-based services. LEAD program participants…

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Adrian Valdez-Refugio Receives Prison Sentence for Hit-and-Run Crash that Killed an Uber Passenger (Valdez-Refugio)

DENVER—After pleading guilty last November to a hit-and-run crash that killed an Uber passenger and injured the driver, Adrian Valdez Refugio (age 21) was sentenced this week. The Denver District Attorney’s Office announces that Valdez-Refugio will serve 12 years with the Department of Corrections and five years of parole. Valdez-Refugio pleaded guilty as charged to…

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Sweet Leaf Owners Plead Guilty to Illegal Marijuana Distribution and Violating Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act

Denver District Attorney’s Office Secures Prison Time for Owners and Asset Forfeiture for Holding Companies DENVER—The Denver District Attorney’s Office today announced the resolution of the investigation and prosecution into Sweet Leaf marijuana dispensaries. The three owners, Matthew Aiken (40-years old); Christian Johnson (50-years old); and Anthony Sauro (33-years old) each entered a guilty plea…

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Man Arrested and Charged in Connection with Multiple Incidents of Indecent Exposure, (Lucero)

DENVER—Prosecutors with the Denver District Attorney’s Office recently filed six felony counts of indecent exposure against a previously-convicted sex offender, Mark T. Lucero (39-years old). The incidents all occurred in northwest Denver. The incidents occurred on: December 16, 2018, in the 4300 block of North Stuart/Raleigh Street alley (involved two victims) December 20, 2018, in…

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Denver’s “Turn Over a New Leaf” Program will Wipe Clean Low-Level Marijuana Convictions

DENVER—Thousands of people convicted of low-level marijuana offenses that occurred before the passage of recreational-use laws can ask to have those crimes expunged from their record through the city’s new “Turn Over a New Leaf” program. Because the state legislature has yet to enact laws that would automatically vacate low-level marijuana offenses, individuals can obtain…

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