A Cortez man will face charges of attempted murder and assault in the alleged shooting of his common-law wife.
At a hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 26, Garrett “Ty” Baxstrom, 38, was charged with one count of attempted murder as a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a count of assault to recklessly cause injury and a count of child abuse stemming from a domestic violence incident. Baxstrom remains in custody at the Montezuma County jail under a $250,000 bond.
Public defender Sara Hildebrand requested that her client’s bail be modified, saying that family members needed his help to conduct daily business operations. Hildebrand added that Baxstrom would agree to vacate a shared residence with the alleged victim and stay with family members.
“The bond at this point is unreasonable,” said Hildebrand.
Montezuma County Court Judge Jennilynn Lawrence sided with prosecutors, denying the request for lower bond.
“Mr. Baxstrom, the inconvenience that you being in jail presents to your family in no way mitigates the risks you present to this victim,” Lawrence said.
Baxstrom’s next court appearance, a preliminary hearing, was set for Oct. 7 at 2:30 p.m.
According to a Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office report, Baxstrom is suspected of firing three shotgun blasts at his common-law wife after beating her nearly unconscious on Saturday, Aug. 15. The alleged victim was reportedly holding the couple’s 2-year-old daughter during the incident at the couple’s residence on the 8000 block of U.S. Highway 160 just after 11 p.m. on Aug. 15.
Authorities found the 37-year-old woman covered in blood and dirt. She reportedly suffered gunshot injuries to her right arm and right thigh and had multiple lacerations to her face, head, arms and back.
“(Baxstrom) tried to kill me,” the alleged victim told a sheriff’s deputy on the night in question.
After the alleged attack, authorities reported that the woman hid in a ditch for about two hours before walking to a neighbor’s home to call 911.
According to investigators, the alleged victim was treated and released from Southwest Memorial Hospital the same night.