Breakup turns violent in Mancos
A Mancos teenager accused of repeatedly striking an ex-girlfriend in the head with a hammer is likely to escape a prison sentence if he completes a three-year youth offender program.
Shackled and in custody in court on Tuesday, Jan. 20, Austin Yeager, an 18-year-old high school dropout, pleaded guilty before Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker to second-degree assault. After his arrest in October, Yeager reportedly told police that he hit his former 16-year-old girlfriend in the head with a hammer “two to four” times.
A Mancos Marshal reported finding the alleged victim with blood on her head, face and neck and her eye nearly swollen shut. Medical records reveal the alleged victim suffered a concussion, three lacerations on her forehead and a contusion.
As part of the plea arrangement, charges of first-degree assault and unlawful sexual contact are likely to be dismissed if the court accepts the plea deal at sentencing on March 17.
Listed as an extraordinary risk crime, the charge carries a maximum eight-year prison term followed by three years of mandatory parole.
Authorities: Suspect fired at residences
A 22-year-old Cortez man reportedly fired a rifle at several residences with the intent to kill his neighbors so he could “eat them.”
Shackled and in custody in court this week, Joshua Berry, a mentally disturbed high school dropout, pleaded guilty to illegal discharge of a firearm and harassment involving ethnic intimidation. No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire on July 1, 2014.
Authorities reported that Berry admitted to firing shots with a .22 caliber rifle at multiple residences surrounding his home on U.S. Highway 160. Officers reported electrocuting the suspect twice with a stun gun after the defendant attempted to kick out windows in a patrol car.
As part of the plea agreement, firearm, menacing, mischief, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest charges are likely to be dismissed if the court accepts the defendant’s guilty pleas to illegal discharge of a firearm and harassment involving ethnic intimidation charges at sentencing on March 17.
If accepted, the suspect would face two years of probation with in-patient mental health treatment. The weapons charge includes a three-year maximum prison term followed by two years of mandatory parole. The harassment charge includes 18 months in jail.
Charges against woman dropped
A 32-year-old pregnant woman from Dolores had all charges against her dropped this week at the request of prosecutors.
Charged with sending threatening emails to an ex-lover, Catrina Prairie was arrested in October for intimidating a witness or victim and violating a protection order.
Prosecutors announced on Tuesday they were dropping the case after investigators were unable to ascertain the IP address used to send the email.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com