Orange Jumpsuits and Barking Dog Issues

By Thomas Wills

Hotchkiss Municipal Court

January 14, 2016

Judge Lynn French presiding:

In a cautionary story, Jennifer Lee Davis, 34, of Delta was delivered to court in a Delta County Jail orange jumpsuit with hand and foot manacles and connected chains. Davis, the former owner of the Brick Wall eatery in Delta pled guilty to shoplifting items from Family Dollar. Davis also admitted to stealing a County-owned pickup truck from the Fairgrounds immediately after being issued a summons for the shoplifting incident.  She then was arrested and released but failed to appear for either the Hotchkiss or County Court appearances. Warrants were issued and she was arrested on December 28 in Grand Junction and had been in jail since then.

Davis apologized to Judge French for the incidents and explained that, after losing her restaurant due to financial difficulties, the stress had led her to fall into a former pattern of substance abuse. She said that prior to that point she had been clean and sober for eight years.

“I was on drugs,” Davis said, and expressed an apparently sincere determination to get her life back on track.

Judge French sentenced Davis to 60 days in jail with 45 days suspended and credit for time served. She was also assessed a $100 fine and $25 in court costs.

                In yet another example of why one should take municipal court actions seriously in this interconnected Internet age, Andy Arturo Santos, 29, formerly of Hotchkiss and now Colorado Springs, was arrested after a traffic stop in Colorado Springs where he had moved and transported back to the Delta County Jail where he has been since December 26. He was also escorted into the courtroom in full jail uniform. Hotchkiss had issued a warrant after Santos had failed to make promised payments on multiple dog at large and failure to license convictions.

                Santos was assessed an additional fine and court costs and given credit for the time served. Santos’ driver’s license had also been under suspension for failure to pay child support.

Kristen Marie Fear, 26, of Hotchkiss pled guilty of having a dog that barked excessively.  Fear admitted that her family dog was left outside during that day while no-one was home. She reported that the dog has now been outfitted with an electronic anti-bark collar that delivers electric shocks. Being a first offense, Fear was given the minimal fine of $25 plus $25 in court costs.

Elizabeth Jane Heidrick, 47, of Crawford pled guilty to speeding 5-9 mph over the limit and was fined $91 plus $25 in court costs. The point deduction from her license was deferred contingent on no further speeding incidents. Heidrick, who is the cheerleading coach at HHS, explained that she had accelerated early when traveling from City Market towards the school to deliver food.

Josiah David Lopiccole, 19, of Olathe failed to appear to explain why he had not made payments from a previous underage drinking conviction. A warrant and $500 bond was issued.

Alison Mckelvie Klaus, 34, of Paonia failed to appear on a speeding charge. Her license will be under suspension until the issue is resolved.

Tiffany M. Smalley, 33.of Grand Junction, failed to appear on failure to present auto insurance. Her license will be under suspension until the issue is resolved.

A 15 year-old juvenile male from Crawford failed to appear for the third time to explain why he had not done promised juvenile diversion program hours. Judge French took the issue under advisement before deciding what to do. Marshal Miller reported that the young man has a somewhat lengthy record

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