Category: Cases

GOLDEN, Colo. (Jun. 26, 2024) – Roman Bear Rivera was sentenced on Monday to 12 years in the Department of Corrections for Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. Rivera also received 12 years in a separate case, to be served concurrently, for Retaliation against the victim in this case. Rivera was arrested and charged as a result of a nationwide sex trafficking enforcement campaign known as Operation Cross Country.

GOLDEN, Colo. (Jun. 11, 2024) – Juan Alexis Ortega Torres was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the First Judicial District Court today for causing a multi-vehicle crash that killed 44-year-old Kresten Wolff Thomsen and seriously injured two children and the driver of another vehicle. On May 15, 2024, Ortega Torres pleaded guilty to three counts: one count of Vehicular Homicide (DUI) and two counts of Vehicular Assault (DUI). Ortega Torres has been in custody since his arrest and faced up to 24 years as a result of his plea.

GOLDEN, Colo. (May 23, 2024) – District Attorney Alexis King is pleased to announce that the First Judicial District is hosting another Fresh Start warrant event at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility in Golden on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. People with active warrants for non-violent, low-level offenses in Gilpin or Jefferson counties will once again have an opportunity to either resolve their case or set a new court date.

GOLDEN, Colo. (May. 15, 2024) – Eugene “Gene” Gillespie was sentenced Tuesday by the First Judicial District Court to 8 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting two Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (IDD) adults. Gillespie had been employed as a volunteer caregiver to individuals with disabilities since 1992 and has interacted with this vulnerable community across the metro area in at least three different volunteer programs.

GOLDEN, Colo. (May 10, 2024) – Zachary Hiestand Kwak pled guilty this morning for the rock-throwing attacks on the night of April 19, 2023. As a result of his plea and cooperation, he will face 20-32 years in prison.

GOLDEN, Colo. (May 9, 2024) – Brock Troy Nieuwendorp was sentenced yesterday to 26 years in the Department of Corrections for distributing fentanyl that killed twenty-five-year-old Catherine “Kate” Hackim on April 29, 2023. Nieuwendorp pleaded guilty earlier this year to Distribution Resulting in Death, and as a result of his plea, he faced 8-32 years in prison.

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 12, 2024) – Eduardo Armando Romero was given the maximum sentence today of 12 years in prison for killing Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) K-9 Graffit and other related crimes from the February 2023 incident. Romero pleaded guilty earlier this year and, as a result, faced 8-12 years in prison.

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 2, 2024)—After pleading guilty earlier this year, Former officer Nathan Geerdes was sentenced to four years probation for the crimes he committed between 2019 and 2021. As a result of his convictions, Geerdes lost his POST certification and can never work in law enforcement again.