GOP candidate Steve Nowlin has dismissed claims circulating about his “dishonest reputation” as politically motivated attacks aimed to “smear his name” in the run-up to the Montezuma County sheriff’s election.
“I have never perjured myself in testimony, in writing or in anything else,” Nowlin told The Cortez Journal.
During an hourlong interview with the newspaper on Aug. 25, Nowlin addressed charges from opponent Mike Steele and his supporters that he was dishonest or had committed perjury. He dismissed the opinions of three defense attorneys in a 2008 motions hearing as mere “accusations.” He said no charges of perjury were ever filed against him.
“A professional standards and internal investigation by the Colorado State Patrol cleared me of any wrongdoing,” said Nowlin. “Perjury is one of those things that will get you terminated in a blink of an eye, and it should be.”
“I wouldn’t stoop to this,” said Nowlin of his political critics. “I never have. I never will.”
“My life is an open book.”
Nowlin further stated that there was no basis to the attacks on his reputation, and described the 2008 hearing in question as efforts by a criminal defense attorney to “plant seeds of doubt.”
“Beyond a reasonable doubt is how someone is convicted in this country,” said Nowlin. “That’s why defense attorneys attack witnesses and especially those peace officers that have collected the facts and the evidence.”
The organized crime and racketeering case in question was called “Operation Four Corners,” which involved an interstate drug/theft ring. Nowlin said the operation resulted in 21 convictions under the Colorado Organized Crime Act.
“The amount of evidence was so enormous and the crimes were so egregious, that their defense was to bring in other defense attorneys to try and discredit me,” said Nowlin. “That was it. I was the one on trial, not the suspects.”
Nowlin presented numerous professional awards and accolades for his investigation of the case. He said that he also received death threats.
In regard to the “snippets” of information alluded to by political critics in the 2008 motions hearing, Nowlin wanted to remind voters that a jury convicted Jaydee Russell, and a judge sentenced him to 96 years in prison. A state appellate court has upheld the conviction and sentence.
“If I had done anything wrong, do you think any of this would have happened?” Nowlin asked. “No way.”
tbaker@cortezjournal.com