A Cortez man who was at the center of a Make My Day case is now facing another trial for violating a criminal and civil restraining orders.
Shane French’s trial started Thursday, two days after he was sentenced for a different violation of a civil restraining order that protected the same victim.
French received a 250-day sentence for violating the civil restraining order. But Montezuma County Court Judge JenniLynn Lawrence allowed the 248 days he already served in jail to count toward his sentence.
She did not impose any probation because she did not feel he could be successful with that kind of supervision. But she told him he must continue to abide by the protection order.
“Without the benefit of probation, you must do that with the support of other people,” she said.
He also faces charges for possessing drug paraphernalia.
French, who has a long criminal history, was found not guilty of assaulting police officers in December 2014.
A jury cleared him of any wrongdoing in December under the Make My Day law. Because officers entered French’s home illegally, he could not be convicted of resisting arrest.
French’s family may pursue a civil suit against the city for the way this arrest was handled.
In Jan. 12 letter, attorney Kathyrn Stimson wrote that the family would take legal action if necessary, and included a complaint and jury demand.
