Sex offender’s term reduced to 3 years
Appearing in custody, David Adcock, 45, of Cortez, recently had an illegal four-year community corrections sentence reduced to three years.
Before the re-sentencing hearing on Sept. 8, Adcock could be heard screaming obscenities and making derogatory comments about the alleged victims mother while meeting behind closed doors with his attorney. Describing the behavior as appalling, prosecutors vowed to file additional contempt and harassment charges.
The court was bound to reduce the initial sentence despite objections from the alleged victim’s mother, who told the court that Adcock should have been given more time at his initial sentencing in March.
A convicted sex offender, Adcock previously pleaded guilty to attempted child sex assault. The alleged victim was a 10-year-old neighbor.
Plea deal offered in drug case
In custody under a $1,000 bond, David Lyons, 24, of Cortez, recently pleaded guilty to drug possession as part of a deal that includes a 24-month deferred judgment and sentence.
Lyons will be screened as a potential drug court candidate before sentencing on Nov. 5. He was arrested and charge in connection to an incident on July 15.
Immigrant gets probation, service
Out of custody, Yovani Juarez, 32, of Cortez, was sentenced to probation and community service in connection to a domestic violence case.
Juarez, a Mexican immigrant, reportedly tried to enroll in area domestic violence counseling, but no services were available for Spanish speakers, according to his attorney. Juarez is likely to be deported within six months on immigration charges.
A judge reluctantly agreed to an 18-month deferred judgment and sentence, ordering Juarez to complete domestic violence training and 100 hours of community service.
Juarez previously pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor menacing charges in connection to a domestic violence incident with his wife in January that involved a machete.
Parolee gets prison for stealing a car
In custody under a $5,000 bond, Jeremy Hightchew, 23, of Cortez, was recently sentenced to two years in prison after stealing an automobile while on parole.
Also known as Jeremy Hurst and Jeremy Rogers, Hightchew could also be ordered to pay $5,300 in restitution pending a hearing in October.
Prosecutors requested the prison term after Hightchew was denied admission into multiple halfway residential facilities.
Hightchew previously pleaded guilty to vehicular eluding and aggravated motor vehicle theft in connection to an incident on May 24.
Trial date set in sex case
In custody under a $30,000 bond, Michael Sanchez, 19, of Grand Junction, recently pleaded not guilty to three sex-based crimes along with separate criminal mischief and trespass charges. A jury trial was set for Jan. 19.
Court records reveal the sex charges stem from incidents that occurred on June 14, 2014, and the other charges reportedly occurred on Aug. 2, 2014.
Woman faces child-abuse charge
Out of custody under a $3,000 bond, Crystal Hurst, 31, of Cortez, was recently arraigned on trespass, assault and child-abuse charges.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred on Aug. 18. A plea hearing was set for Oct. 6.
Drug suspect skips sentencing
A no-bond bench warrant was recently issued for Bruce Seagrave, 42, of Dove Creek, after he failed to appear for sentencing.
Out of custody on a $1,500 bond, Seagrave’s initial sentencing date in August was continued. At the time, Seagrave claimed that he needed to care for an autistic child. The drug case, which also includes obstruction and false-reporting charges, stems from an incident in November 2014.
Drug suspects get separate trials
The court recently granted defense requests to give two local suspected drug dealers separate trials.
Out of custody under a $4,000 bond, Rebecca Greer, 33, of Cortez, faces four drug possession and distribution charges along with a single count of drug paraphernalia. Her co-defendant, in custody under a $30,000 bond, Levi Fullbright, 43, of Cortez, faces multiple drug possession and distribution, drug paraphernalia and habitual criminal charges. Both were arrested stemming from an incident on June 7.
Prosecutors, indicating that a plea deal was likely for both suspects, said at a recent hearing that the defendants participated in a “joint venture” that was the equivalent of an “ice cream truck for methamphetamine users.”
Greer has a plea hearing set in September, and Fulbright has a jury trial set in November.
19-year-old faces drug charges
Out of custody under a $20,000 bond, Ashlee Cruzan, 19, of Cortez, was back in custody recently after violating terms of her release on drug charges.
A scheduled arraignment hearing on drug possession and distribution charges stemming from an Aug. 7 incident was continued until October.
Cruzan also faces a new charge in county court.
Mancos woman gets 60 days in drug case
In custody under a $10,000 bond, Ana Sena, 32, of Mancos, was recently sentenced to 60 days in jail on drug charges.
Sena previously pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a controlled substance with a stipulation that she be placed on two years of supervised probation. The jail term was recently added after she skipped an initial July sentencing date.
The charges, which stem from a U.S. 160 traffic stop on March 31, 2014, were filed after meth was reportedly found in the vehicle. Sena and a co-defendant were charged with distribution and possession charges.
Prosecutors have yet to indicate whether additional charges will be filed against Sena after she and other female inmates tested positive for methamphetamine use inside the county jail on Mother’s Day.
Tobie Baker