The District Attorney — 18th Judicial District
  • Our Office
    • About Us
      • Meet the District Attorney
      • Mission Statement
      • Law Enforcement Partners
      • Unified Metropolitan Forensic Crime Lab
      • Forms and Brochures
      • Organization Chart
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • General Courts
      • District Court
      • Juvenile Court
      • County Court
    • Specialized Units
      • Conviction Integrity Unit
      • Cold Case
      • Appeals
      • Vehicular Homicide Unit
      • Diversion Counseling Program
      • Special Victims Unit (SVU)
      • Domestic Violence Unit
      • Human Trafficking Unit
      • Elder and at Risk Unit
      • Economic Crime Unit
      • Problem Solving Courts
    • Support Units
      • Finance Unit
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Technology
      • Investigations
      • Victim Witness Unit
      • Central Services
      • Victim Compensation
  • Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Victim Services
    • Victim Witness Unit
      • Victim Impact Statement and Restitution Information
    • Victim Rights
    • Victim Compensation
    • Domestic Violence
      • Domestic Violence Fast Track
    • Sexual Assault
    • Sex Offender Locator
  • Community Outreach
    • Newsletter
    • Consumer Fraud Protection
      • Community Presentations
      • Wage Theft
      • Fraud Alerts
      • Bad Check Restitution Program — DISCONTINUED
    • Outreach
    • Events
      • Senior Law & Safety Summit: May 21, 2022
      • Second Chances Warrant Clearance
      • Community Conversations
      • Citizen’s Academy
    • Volunteer
  • Reports
    • Data Dashboards
    • Financial Reports
    • Media
    • News Releases
    • Records Request
    • Officer-Involved Shootings
    • Peace Officer Credibility Disclosure Notification
  • Prosecution
    • Criminal Justice Glossary
    • Courtroom Diagram
    • Records Request
    • Docket Search
Ex-Taekwondo instructor sentenced to five decades in prison...
Report of June 1, 2023 officer-involved shooting in...
Enrollment open for Fall 2023 Citizen’s Academy
MS-13 gang member sentenced to life in prison...
Defendant in Douglas County double-homicide case sentenced to...
Arrest warrant issued in 2007 double-homicide cold case...
Report of February 2, 2023 officer-involved shooting in...
Colorado Springs woman sentenced to two decades in...
Jury returns guilty verdict for Littleton man who...
More than 100 warrants cancelled during ‘Second Chances’...

The District Attorney — 18th Judicial District

  • Our Office
    • About Us
      • Meet the District Attorney
      • Mission Statement
      • Law Enforcement Partners
      • Unified Metropolitan Forensic Crime Lab
      • Forms and Brochures
      • Organization Chart
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • General Courts
      • District Court
      • Juvenile Court
      • County Court
    • Specialized Units
      • Conviction Integrity Unit
      • Cold Case
      • Appeals
      • Vehicular Homicide Unit
      • Diversion Counseling Program
      • Special Victims Unit (SVU)
      • Domestic Violence Unit
      • Human Trafficking Unit
      • Elder and at Risk Unit
      • Economic Crime Unit
      • Problem Solving Courts
    • Support Units
      • Finance Unit
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Technology
      • Investigations
      • Victim Witness Unit
      • Central Services
      • Victim Compensation
  • Newsletter
    • Newsletter Archive
  • Victim Services
    • Victim Witness Unit
      • Victim Impact Statement and Restitution Information
    • Victim Rights
    • Victim Compensation
    • Domestic Violence
      • Domestic Violence Fast Track
    • Sexual Assault
    • Sex Offender Locator
  • Community Outreach
    • Newsletter
    • Consumer Fraud Protection
      • Community Presentations
      • Wage Theft
      • Fraud Alerts
      • Bad Check Restitution Program — DISCONTINUED
    • Outreach
    • Events
      • Senior Law & Safety Summit: May 21, 2022
      • Second Chances Warrant Clearance
      • Community Conversations
      • Citizen’s Academy
    • Volunteer
  • Reports
    • Data Dashboards
    • Financial Reports
    • Media
    • News Releases
    • Records Request
    • Officer-Involved Shootings
    • Peace Officer Credibility Disclosure Notification
  • Prosecution
    • Criminal Justice Glossary
    • Courtroom Diagram
    • Records Request
    • Docket Search

Retired officer sentenced to jail for buying gun for felon

February 15, 2022

A retired police officer who bought a rifle for a convicted felon who later set pipe bombs in an Aurora neighborhood will be spending 90 days in jail.

Curtiss Christensen

Curtiss Christensen


Arapahoe District Court Judge Ryan Stuart sentenced Curtiss Christensen, 70, to 90 days in jail followed by four years of supervised probation. Christensen must also perform 75 hours of useful community service.

“You have become one of the dangers you and other law enforcement officers have taken oaths to protect us against,” Judge Stuart told Christensen. “You made the decision to arm a violent man with a weapon. Your actions in this one case erased an entire career of public service.”

On Dec. 25, 2020, and Jan. 7, 2021, pipe bombs exploded in Aurora. In each case, shrapnel from the blast went into a nearby home. The suspect, Scott Campbell, lived in Christensen’s basement.

The investigation into the bombings revealed that after the crime, Christensen helped Campbell try to hide evidence. Christensen also purchased an AR-15 rifle that he gave to Campbell, even though he knew Campbell was a convicted felon and could not legally possess a firearm.

“This defendant swore an oath to uphold the law. That does not give him a pass when it comes to being held accountable for his decisions and his actions,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “I hope this sends a clear message that might deter others who would cavalierly purchase a firearm for a felon.”

Christensen pleaded guilty Dec. 10, 2021, to the top charge: One count of straw purchase of a firearm, a Class 4 felony. Other, lesser, counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Sentencing was at the discretion of the judge.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Laura Wilson asked Judge Stuart to send Christensen to prison.

“This defendant is clearly aware of the law but is not always willing to follow the law,” she said. “Every citizen has to follow the law – especially a 20-year police officer. …

“There needs to be punishment for his actions.”

A woman was inside the house when it was damaged by the bomb that went off in January 2021. Members of her family spoke during the Feb. 14 sentencing hearing.

“This was traumatic to say the least. No one expects bomb fragments in the place they call home,” they told the judge. “I am sure the defendant’s fellow officers were shocked and dismayed when they learned of his actions.”

Judge Stuart imposed jail time and said Christensen “held a special place as a former law enforcement officer.”

Scott Campbell

Scott Campbell


Scott Campbell pleaded guilty Jan. 10 to one count of attempted first-degree murder, a Class 2 felony; and one count of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, a Class 6 felony. He was immediately sentenced to 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Retired officer sentenced to jail for buying gun for felon was last modified: February 15th, 2022 by Eric Ross

Recent Posts

  • Ex-Taekwondo instructor sentenced to five decades in prison for recording multiple children in changing rooms
  • Report of June 1, 2023 officer-involved shooting in Aurora involving 14-year-old juvenile
  • Enrollment open for Fall 2023 Citizen’s Academy
  • MS-13 gang member sentenced to life in prison without parole
  • Defendant in Douglas County double-homicide case sentenced to 97 years in prison
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Footer Logo
  • Our Office
  • Victim Services
  • Community Outreach
  • Media
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
  • Prosecution
  • Disclaimer Policy

© 2022 - DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE 18 JUDICIAL DISTRICT