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State earns more than $15M in seized assets proceeds in last 4 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A new bill would touch tens of millions in civil asset forfeiture revenue for police, attorneys and cities.Under Colorado law, law enforcement, district attorneys, cities and other agencies are allowed to seize property suspected of being linked to a crime. This is a civil action separate from the criminal prosecution - the agencies can take the assets whether or not the owner is found guilty of the crime. Photos: 2 arrested after front-door ‘booby trap’ injures visitor Recently, legal movements in some U.S. cities and states have attempted to put more oversight on civil asset forfeiture or abolish it entirely. Colorado is one of those states. HB23-1086, titled the Due Process Asset Forfeiture Act, would allow agencies to seize assets only if defendants are found guilty of a crime. Sponsored by Colorado Representative Ken DeGraaf, an El Paso County Republican, it would also link the seizure to the criminal case rather than creating a separate civil case. Colorado...

Denver weather: Sunshine returns with a slow warming trend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The light snow has moved out of Denver's weather for the rest of tonight. Snow totals were on the light side as predicted by Pinpoint Weather, Colorado’s Most Accurate Forecast.Snow reports across northern ColoradoWeather tonight: Slow clearing and coldSnow showers will still be possible across the southern areas of Colorado. For Denver and the Front Range skies will slowly clear and the wind will become light. This will lead to a cold night with overnight lows in the teens and 20s.Forecast overnight low temperatures by Friday morning from Pinpoint WeatherWeather tomorrow: Sunshine returns but still a chilly dayWe will have mainly sunny skies across metro Denver and the Front Range. There will be passing clouds at times. The wind will still be out of the north/northeast. That will keep temperatures on the chilly side with highs forecast in the 40s. At this time of year Denver's average high should be closer to the upper 50s.High temperatures for Friday across Colorad...

Man pleads guilty in 2015 murder case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A man arrested two years ago in connection to a 2015 murder pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge last week, the Denver District Attorney's Office said in a release Thursday. Nicholas Lujan, 29, was arrested in 2021 by the Denver cold case team after years of investigation into the murder of 61-year-old Jose Frias-Olivas. $20K reward for information on East Colfax homicide “This was a horrific murder and I am very proud of our Cold Case Unit and that of the Denver Police Department for working long and hard to get justice for Mr. Frias-Olivas,” Denver DA Beth McCann said.Frias-Olivas was shot and killed in Harvard Gulch Park West on Aug. 15, 2015. He was visiting his daughter in southwest Denver when he left her home mid-morning to take a walk and was shot in broad daylight. DA's Office: Police match DNA to LujanThe DA's release said Lujan's DNA matched what was found on the murder weapon's magazine. Other DNA was found but Lujan was considered a poss...

‘Pillowcase Rapist’ sentenced to 17 years in prison for rape dating back to ’80s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

It is sentencing day for the man who became known as the “Pillowcase Rapist.” The crime from 1983 is what he was convicted on. Sixty-three-year-old Robert Koehler was convicted of a rape that was one of a series of attacks in the 1980s. Koehler was arrested and charged back in 2020 after DNA evidence connected him to crimes attributed to the so-called Pillowcase Rapist. His son and daughter testified via Zoom Thursday on his behalf. “My dad was an amazing father to the both of us,” Brandy Koehler said. “He raised us, we were with him all that time. He did everything and everything for us. He was an amazing father.”Just like he did during trial, Koehler took the stand and once again argued that he was the real victim. “From the beginning, from the day of my arrest, every right that is available to any citizen in this country, has been violated by this malicious prosecution,” he said. His sentence for two charges, kidnapping while using...

Jury deliberations to resume Monday in XXXTentacion killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jury deliberations for the trial of three men accused of murdering rising rap star XXXTentacion during a 2018 robbery will resume Monday after the panel finished a seventh day of deliberations Thursday without reaching a verdict.The seven women and five men had asked Circuit Judge Michael Usan if they could have Friday off to take care of personal appointments, and the judge granted the request. Earlier Thursday, jurors had asked to view the defendants’ social media accounts, as well as GPS data or maps to calculate distance between points mentioned in the case. The judge denied those requests, saying the verdict must be based on evidence presented during the trial.Michael Boatwright, 28 and the accused shooter; Dedrick Williams, 26 and the accused ringleader and getaway driver; and Trayvon Newsome, 24 and the alleged second gunman, are charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. They face mandatory life sentences if convicted...

Police respond to reported fight at Miami Northwestern Senior High

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

Police have swarmed Miami Northwestern Senior High School following reports of a fight on campus.7News cameras captured several police cruisers parked near the campus entrance, Thursday afternoon.According to City of Miami Police, they were called to assist after some sort of fight broke out.Parents of students were seen outside the school. Some said they witnessed several people being taken away in handcuffs.Officers with Miami-Dade Schools Police told a 7News crew that they needed to stay back because they were still searching for someone.Down the street from the school, near Northwest 71st Street and Seventh Avenue, police surrounded a Jeep. They took someone away in handcuffs at that location. It’s unclear whether that scene is related to what unfolded on campus.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Suspect armed with machete dead after police-involved shooting in North Miami Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

An investigation is underway after a police-involved shooting took the life of a suspect who, sources said, was armed with a machete and holding a woman hostage at a medical complex.7Skyforce hovered over the scene at the complex, located at Northeast 168th Street and 68th Avenue, Thursday afternoon. According 7News sources, an incident happened inside the medical office building where a man held a machete to a woman’s neck. Sources said it was similar to a hostage situation. Police arrived to the scene and shot and killed the suspect. That woman is said to be OK.The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation as per protocol for any police-involved shooting.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Student alert, recovering after stabbing at Brockton school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

A 17-year-old student is recovering after officials said a classmate stabbed the teen at a local school Thursday morning.The classmate, a 16 year old, was taken into custody.Both the 16 year old and the 17 year old who was stabbed were also taken to area hospitals.Police said the student who was stabbed suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The teen was responsive and alert as of Thursday afternoon, according to police, who added that school administrators and family members have been with him.The incident happened in a hallway outside the gym at Brockton’s Huntington Day School around 9:30 a.m. during a time where students were between classes. One student speaking with 7NEWS said they heard screaming before then seeing teachers rushing down stairs. “[T]hen, a whole lot of ambulances and police pulled up to the school,” the student said. Speaking at a press conference, Brockton Public Schools Superintendent Michael Thomas said a staff member saw the altercation and...

Owner of Boston-area pizza chain accused of abusing employees, faces federal charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

The owner of a pizza chain with multiple Boston-area locations appeared in court Thursday facing federal forced labor charges amid accusations that he abused an employee and threatened to report the employee’s immigration status. Stavros Papantoniadis, 47, of Westwood was charged with one count of forced labor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced.Papantoniadis owns Stash’s Pizza with locations in Dorchester and Roslindale. Homeland Security investigators said he threatened and physically assaulted employees over the years, even kicking one long time employee in the groin and knocking his teeth out on another occasion.Papantoniadas allegedly targeted vulnerable employees who lacked immigration status. While officials said he owns two Boston locations, Papantoniadis also used to own other pizza shops in Norwell, Norwood, Randolph, Weymouth and Wareham U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins discussed allegations against Papantoniadis in a s...

Maine tribes make sovereignty call in first address in years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:42 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Tribal leaders in Maine, who have long sparred with state leaders over the issue of sovereignty for Native American tribes, used their first address to the Maine Legislature in 21 years to call for greater autonomy.The tribes hope to alter the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1980, which treats reservations like municipalities that are subject to state law. Other federal recognized tribes are treated like sovereign nations, and Maine tribes’ different status has led to conflicts with the state over issues such as natural resources and economic development.It’s time to modernize the agreement between state government and Maine tribes, because the current arrangement makes Maine Native Americans “outliers in Indian Country,” said Clarissa Sabattis, chief of the Houlton Band of Maliseets.“I look forward to forging a new path forward that is not only better for our tribe but also better for this great state that we all call home,” Sabatt...