Category: Cases

Karl Aaron Bemish (DOB: 6/30/1969) pled guilty to First Degree Murder on Friday for the murder of his girlfriend, 45-year-old Hilary Engel, and was sentenced by the First Judicial District Court to mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

“We are thankful for the prosecution’s work on this case, and that even though we continue to grieve the loss of Hilary, we believe this result was the best available outcome,” Engel’s family said in a statement through the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. 

All that knew her stated that Engel cared deeply for others, not only as a nurse, but as a daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, and mother to an 8-year-old surviving son whom she loved greatly.  

On Dec. 29, 2020, Engel was reported missing to police by her father after she was last seen dropping her son off at daycare the previous morning. Her body was later discovered in her home, hidden underneath a bed. 

Bemish was arrested in Trinidad, Colorado, after he had driven Engel’s car and used her ATM card to get money. In the plea agreement, Bemish admitted that he caused the death of Ms. Engel by strangulation. 

“This is not a case that my office felt appropriate to negotiate,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Amanda Lessman told the court. “A plea to Murder One and its coinciding life sentence is appropriate.” 

Lessmann added that she had respect for the fact that Mr. Bemish took responsibility and hopes it brings the family some peace.

First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King issued the following statement Thursday in response to Governor Jared Polis granting Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos clemency.

“From the beginning, we have followed the process set forth in the law to reach a just resolution of this case. We are disappointed in the Governor’s decision to act prematurely. I joined the surviving victims and families of those who lost their loved ones in their wish to have the trial judge determine an appropriate sentence in this case, as he heard the facts and evidence of the defendant’s destructive conduct that led to death, injury, and devastating destruction.

We are meeting with the victims and their loved ones this evening to support them in navigating this unprecedented action and to ensure they are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect during this difficult time. We look forward to sharing more information with our community that we were ethically prohibited from releasing while the case was pending.”

The First Judicial District Court (Gilpin/Jefferson) will hold a hearing Monday, Dec. 27, to rule on the District Attorney’s request to reconsider the sentence of Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos – a process provided by law, contemplated by the People prior to the initial sentencing, and discussed with the court at the time of initial sentencing.

First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King issued the following statement:

“Based on the facts of this case and input from the victims and their families, my office will be asking the court to consider a sentencing range of 20-30 years when the Court is prepared to address resentencing. As the jury found, Mr. Aguilera-Mederos knowingly made multiple active choices that resulted in the death of four people, serious injuries to others, and mass destruction. This sentencing range reflects an appropriate outcome for that conduct, which was not an accident. Given that the victims in this case have more than one view of an appropriate outcome, and this trial court heard the evidence presented, we believe that this hearing is the best path to securing justice for everyone involved.

Our team has connected with defense counsel and will continue to do so as both parties prepare for this resentencing opportunity. We have also been working with the Governor’s Office to ensure that the victims and their loved ones are heard both in this process and the pending clemency application with the Governor. We are grateful for the coordination with the Governor’s office and thank the Department of Corrections for expediting the required evaluation report for resentencing.

As I have in the past, I continue to support the efforts of the Governor’s Sentencing Reform Task Force. Criminal justice reform, including sentencing reform, is a priority of my administration for safer and healthier communities for all. I have been in discussions with the co-chair of the task force and have encouraged him to continue their efforts to address felony sentencing reform in Colorado.”

DA Alexis King will speak briefly to the media following the hearing.

The proceeding is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MST) on Monday and will be streamed live through WebEx. Another release with the link will be distributed once it has been created by the court.

First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King filed a motion on Friday, Dec. 17, for the First Judicial District Court to set a hearing to reconsider the sentence of Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos.

The motion states, “As Colorado law required the imposition of the sentence in this case, the law also permits the Court to reconsider its sentence in an exceptional case involving unusual and extenuating circumstances. The People brought this option to the Court’s attention at the initial sentencing. C.R.S. 18-1.3-406(1)(a) permits this review after the receipt of a report on the defendant’s diagnosis and evaluation.

Now that the Defendant has been sentenced, the People again request the Court set a hearing as soon as practicable upon the receipt of the report. Consistent with the People and the Court’s obligation under the Victim Rights Amendment, the People have begun conferring with the victims in this case to obtain and consider their input in advance of the Court’s hearing and notify them of the date determined by the Court. The People intend to file supplemental information prior to the hearing.”

For more information, view the complete Request for Hearing Motion.

Per our ethical obligations under Rules 3.6 and 3.8(f) of the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct – a set of attorney regulations adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court – the office will not be commenting or providing any additional records until the case is resolved.

Peter Robert Dettmer (DOB: 06-17-1952) was extradited Wednesday from Ecuador to the United States.

Dettmer faces 126 sexual assault charges stemming from a 2016 case out of Golden, including –

63 counts of Sexual Assault – Victim Helpless (F3 felony)
1 count of Sexual Assault – Victim Incapable due to Force/Drugs/Other (F3 felony)
62 counts of Sexual Assault – Victim Incapable (F4 felony)

An advisement hearing for Dettmer has been scheduled in the First Judicial District Court for December 1. Due to ethical obligations under Rules 3.6 and 3.8(f) of the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct – a set of attorney regulations adopted by the Colorado Supreme Court – the DA’s Office will not release any additional information or comment further until the case is closed.

Arrested in Cuenca, Ecuador, on April 27, Dettmer’s extradition was carried out by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State. It is just the second extradition from Ecuador to the United States in the past 27 years.

Former Craig city councilman Brian Paul Mackenzie (DOB: 03-28-1971) was sentenced by the First Judicial District Court on Friday to a minimum of 10 years in Colorado’s Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Program.

Mackenzie will be supervised in the community and must register as a sex offender and participate in sex offender treatment.

A Jefferson County jury found Mackenzie guilty on Sept. 9, of Internet Luring of a Child with Intent to Exploit, Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Attempted Sexual Assault of a Child.

In October 2019, undercover officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office engaging in a sting operation were contacted by Mackenzie. Believing the officers to be a 14-year-old girl, Mackenzie sent sexually explicit messages and arranged a meeting at what he believed to be her parents’ Lakewood residence. On his way to the home, Mackenzie was taken into custody and condoms were found in the glovebox of his vehicle.

Mackenzie resigned from his elected position with Craig City Council following his arrest.

Clinton Eugene Priest (DOB: 02-16-1967) was sentenced by the First Judicial District Court on Friday to 48 years in prison for the murder of 32-year-old Robert Miller in September 2020.

“We are grateful to the Wheat Ridge Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office for their dedication and hard work in bringing this case to trial to secure justice for Robert,” Miller’s family said in a statement.

In September, a Jefferson County jury found Priest guilty of Second-Degree Murder and First-Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon Causing Serious Bodily Injury. He received a 32-year prison sentence for the assault charge to be served concurrently with the 48-year sentence for murder.

On September 23, 2020, officers from the Wheat Ridge Police Department were dispatched to a bar on West 44th Avenue and Kipling Street in response to reports of a man found bleeding in the parking lot. Miller was found unconscious on the ground behind the bar. Suffering multiple stab wounds, he was transported to the hospital but later pronounced deceased.

A witness at the bar saw a man arguing with Miller in the parking lot after Miller had asked him for a ride. When the witness returned, Miller was found on the ground bleeding. Priest was identified as the other man and Miller’s blood was found on the back of his truck, on the murder weapon, in his house and on himself.

Priest initially reported that he was attacked – unprovoked – by a homeless man and did nothing to them in response. After being taken to the hospital, Priest was cleared by medical professionals without any treatment and refused to speak further with investigators.