Category: Community

Exterior of Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility 2024

Woman Charged with Murder Following Death of Her 16-Year-Old Daughter

GOLDEN, Colo. (June 3, 2026) – The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office has charged Gretchen Leanne Ryan with one count of Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the alcohol-related death of her sixteen-year-old daughter in March 2026.
June 3, 2026
Jefferson county courthouse building

Verdict Reached in Trial of Former Mountain View Councilman

GOLDEN, Colo. (Jun. 1, 2026) – A Jefferson County jury has found Brent John Metz guilty of Third Degree Assault (M1), the lesser included offense of Second Degree Assault, and Illegal Discharge of a Firearm (F5). He was acquitted of Second Degree Assault and two counts of Menacing.
June 1, 2026
Jefferson county courthouse building

Former Officer Facing Criminal Charges, Investigators Seek Additional Information

GOLDEN, Colo. (May 19, 2026) – District Attorney Alexis King announced today that Christopher Gearhart has been charged with six counts of First Degree Official Misconduct and four counts of Cybercrime related to alleged misconduct committed between July 2023 and July 2025, while employed as an Agent of the Lakewood Police Department (LPD). Gearhart worked as a patrol agent from approximately January 2019, until he resigned pending investigation in September 2025.
May 19, 2026
Exterior of Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility 2024

Driver Charged with Vehicular Homicide Following Speed Investigation

GOLDEN, Colo. (May 8, 2026) – The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office has charged Damien Lee Sronce with two counts of vehicular homicide following the investigation into the crash that killed an Arvada couple.
May 8, 2026
Fresh Start logo

First Judicial District to Host Milestone 10th “Fresh Start” Event this Saturday, May 2

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 30, 2026) – The First Judicial District will mark a significant milestone this Saturday, May 2, as it hosts its 10th Fresh Start warrant event. This collaborative initiative, which has helped hundreds of individuals move toward legal resolution since 2021, will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility in Golden.
April 30, 2026
Jefferson county courthouse building

Tyler Young Sentenced in I-70 Police Pursuit and Officer-Involved Shooting in Evergreen

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 27, 2026) – Tyler James Young has been sentenced to 13 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by a mandatory three-year term of parole, after pleading guilty to charges related to motor vehicle theft, eluding officers, and second degree assault.
April 27, 2026
smiling photo of Michael Smith

Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Fatal DUI Crash That Killed One and Injured Two Others

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 27, 2026) – On Friday, Cesar Hernandez-Sanchez (DOB: 12/15/1992) was sentenced to 14 years in the Department of Corrections for an October 2025 DUI crash that killed Michael Smith and severely injured two others in Wheat Ridge.
April 27, 2026
Jody Chavez smiling

Jian Chen Sentenced to Maximum 12-Years in Prison for Vehicular Homicide

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 6, 2026) – On Friday, Jian Bin Chen was sentenced to 12 years in the Department of Corrections for the March 2025 wrong-way DUI crash that killed young mother Jody Chavez in Wheat Ridge.
April 6, 2026
Jefferson county courthouse building

Former School Social Worker Chloe Castro Sentenced

GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 2, 2026) – Today, Chloe Rose Castro was sentenced to 20 years to life of Sex Offender Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP), with a term of three years in community corrections to be served at Intervention Community Corrections Services (ICCS) as a condition of probation. She will also be subject to lifetime sex offender registration.
April 2, 2026
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