Community Corrections Helps Addicts Get Life Straightened Out Glenwood Springs, Colo. - When Nathan Bassetti turned himself in at the Garfield County Jail two years ago he was homeless and addicted to methamphetamine. Now two years into a four-year sentence to the county Community Corrections program, he's a new man - literally. Community Corrections is an alternative sentencing option for mostly nonviolent, midlevel felony offenders. Although they're housed in the county jail they're not part of that general population but are housed in a segregated area of the jail. Instead of sitting in a jail cell, they are released every day to work and receive intensive psychotherapy. [continues 813 words]
Similar Cases Were Dropped Because Of Lack Of Evidence Charges against a fourth defendant in a medical marijuana case are likely to be dropped this week. Deputy District Attorney Scott Turner filed a motion to dismiss the case against Justin Brownlee, who is charged with various counts of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Similar cases have been dismissed against Gene Brownlee, Justin's uncle, and Gene Brownlee's ex-wife, Jennifer Ryan, because of mishandled evidence. Without the physical evidence prosecutors would be unable to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. [continues 207 words]
An attorney for a former Rifle man accused in a medical marijuana case filed a series of motions in 9th Judicial District Court in Glenwood Springs Thursday. Public defender Jamie Roth filed 16 motions prior to Gene Brownlee's trial, which is set for Nov. 28. The Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team arrested Brownlee, his wife Jennifer Ryan, his nephew Justin Brownlee and a friend, Drew Gillespie, on Aug. 2, 2004, in Rifle. TRIDENT had staked out the apartment on a tip from the caretaker of the apartment complex. [continues 269 words]
A lengthy hearing in 9th District Court in Glenwood Springs could become a landmark case in Colorado constitutional law. Judge James Boyd heard arguments last week for the dismissal of a medical marijuana case in which defendant Jennifer Ryan's attorney Kris Hammond maintained that the evidence - 131 marijuana plants - were willfully destroyed by members of the Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team in violation of the Colorado Constitution. Members of the task force admitted they destroyed the plants when they seized them on the evening of Aug. 2, 2004, at a Rifle residence. [continues 678 words]
One of the defendants in a medical marijuana case, Gene Brownlee, appeared before District Court Judge Thomas Ossola Thursday. After a preliminary hearing on the evidence in the case, Ossola, standing in for District Court Judge James Boyd, bound Brownlee over for arraignment on Feb. 10. Brownlee, 34; his wife, Jennifer Ryan, 21; Justin Brownlee and Drew Gillespie, both 19, were arrested at 545 Park Ave. in Rifle on Aug. 2 and charged with growing and selling marijuana. Brownlee and Ryan told Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team officers they believed they were permitted to grow it because Brownlee has terminal cancer. [continues 268 words]
