sex assault

Jury convicts man who fired at Jeep and hit protesters on Interstate-225 in Aurora

An Arapahoe County jury convicted Samuel Young, 24, of seven felony charges on Thursday, for the shooting on I-

225 where he fired at a blue Jeep driving past the protest crowd and wounded two bystanders on the side of the roadway.

On July 25, 2020, after a protest demonstration at the Aurora Municipal Center, a crowd of protesters marched onto Alameda Avenue and then Interstate 225. The crowd eventually took over all lanes of traffic on both sides of the interstate and continued marching northbound. Despite attempts to block traffic at several intersections, some motorists still approached the area of the protest crowd which was not authorized to be on the interstate. After the driver of a blue Jeep drove onto the interstate and was intentionally hit by a truck associated with the protest group, he continued driving northbound as some pedestrians threw objects at the Jeep driving in the middle lanes of traffic. Samuel Young stepped from the shoulder of the interstate and fired 5 shots at the Jeep as it tried to drive past the crowd. Two shots hit the back of the Jeep after it drove by the Defendant, and two shots struck and wounded bystanders on the opposite side of the interstate. One victim was struck in the thigh and one victim was hit on the side of the head. The driver and passenger of the blue Jeep were not injured. There were no reports that anyone was injured by the Jeep and it did not exceed the speed limit.

Investigators identified the Defendant, Samuel Young, based on witnesses and pictures from the protest. He admitted he was the suspected shooter after media bulletins were publicized the next day. Investigators collected video footage and pictures from a news helicopter, cell phone cameras, social media sites, stationary traffic cameras, and a drone camera operated by a witness in the protest crowd. The Aurora Police Department and District Attorney’s Office investigated the incident, collecting witness statements, ballistics evidence, and electronic data from the vehicles involved.

Mr. Young pleaded not guilty to all charges and proceeded to jury trial on March 22, 2022. The jury deliberated and returned verdicts on March 31, 2022, finding him guilty of seven counts, including four counts of Attempted Reckless Manslaughter, two counts of Second Degree Assault (heat of passion), and one count of Illegal Discharge of a Firearm.

“This was an irresponsible and reckless decision that put countless lives in danger” District Attorney John Kellner said.  “The Defendant brought a handgun to a protest taking over a major interstate and it’s fortunate that no one was killed by his violent conduct that day.”

Assistant District Attorney Tom Byrnes handled the case with Deputy District Attorney Mike Mauro. Byrnes told the jury “the Defendant’s decision to shoot at the Jeep was intentional and it was reckless to fire his gun 5 times in the direction of the crowd. Those decisions were not justified by any reasonable or legitimate claim that he was defending others.”

 

A sentencing hearing is set for May 17, 2022. Young faces up to 3 years in prison on each of the Attempted Manslaughter charges and the Illegal Discharge conviction, and up to 4 years for the Second Degree Assault convictions.

The Honorable District Court Judge Ben Leutwyler presided over the jury trial.

Man sentenced to 200 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three children

An Arapahoe County District Court Judge sentenced Brian Eugene Barcelona, 35, to 200 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three children as part of a pattern of abuse that spanned a 4-year period.
On August 26, 2018, the Aurora Police Department began an investigation after an Aurora father reported that his son had been sexually assaulted by his adult cousin. Investigators discovered that, between 2015 and 2018, Barcelona had repeatedly sexually assaulted the boy and his two siblings whose ages ranged between 10 and 13. Investigators also found photographs of the sexual abuse on Barcelona’s cell phone when he was arrested. Barcelona pleaded not guilty to the charges that followed, and the case proceeded to trial on October 25, 2021.
Following a 7-day jury trial, Barcelona was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault of a child by one in a position of trust, and four counts sexual exploitation of a child.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Danielle Jaramillo, who tried the case with Deputy District Attorney Abby Hegarty, put the defendant’s conduct into context. “In all my years of prosecuting these types of cases, I struggle to recall another one involving such severe abuse or brazen conduct,” Jaramillo said. “The defendant felt so secure in his ability to exploit his position of trust to silence these children that he actually kept photographs as trophies.”
The honorable Judge Joseph Whitfield, who presided over the trial, noted the long-lasting impact that the Barcelona’s actions are likely to have on the victims and their family before imposing the sentences consecutively, effectively ensuring a life sentence.
“This predator selfishly sacrificed the well-being of his own relatives to satisfy his depraved desires,” District Attorney John Kellner said. “I am grateful for the bravery of these young victims who came forward to put a stop to his destructive manipulation.”

An Arapahoe County jury today found a serial rapist guilty in cases in Aurora and Cherry Hills Village.

Tre Miekale Carrasco, 26 was found guilty of 11 counts including sexual assault. The jury returned its verdict May 13 after a five-day trial before Arapahoe District Court Judge Ben Leutwyler.

“This is a dangerous predator who should be incarcerated to keep him off the streets and keep our community safe,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “He was in prison for similar acts in Kansas. He got out of prison and within days committed a new offense there. Within two weeks of his release, he came here to Colorado and continued his violent crimes. I am grateful to this jury for their work, as these verdicts will help us keep this serial rapist behind bars.”

On Feb. 7, 2019, Carrasco tried to kidnap a woman in the parking lot of a fitness club in Aurora. She got away, but he stole her car.

Then, on Feb. 12, 2019, Carrasco drove that car to a home in Cherry Hills Village where he raped a woman at knifepoint. He was arrested about five hours later in the same car stolen in Aurora.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Gallo and Deputy District Attorney Casey Brown.

The jury found Carrasco guilty of:

* 2nd-degree kidnapping, with a deadly weapon
* Sexual assault, with a deadly weapon
* Burglary, with a deadly weapon
* Aggravated robbery, with a deadly weapon
* Two counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft
* Two counts of criminal trespass
* Attempt to influence a public servant
* False reporting
* Driving a motor vehicle without a license

Sentencing is set for July 8. Carrasco faces a mandatory prison sentence for the commission of crimes of violence, as well as sentencing as a sexual offender.

An Aurora man who videotaped himself sexually assaulting teenage boys was sentenced Monday to 22 years to life in prison.

Arapahoe District Court Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced Andrew Brian Sandoval, 51, after he pleaded guilty Feb. 22 to one count of sexual assault on a child – pattern of abuse, a Class 3 felony. Other charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

“Those who prey on our children tear the fabric of our society, which is trained to protect our most vulnerable members at all costs,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “This defendant was found to have dozens of videos of himself with teenage boys in his home. Problems with identification and cooperation meant we could only bring a case with one victim, but that is one too many. The life of the young victim is forever altered, as is that of his family. This defendant deserves a harsh sentence for his crimes.”

The crimes came to light when the mother of the 13-year-old victim found disturbing text messages on his phone and contacted Aurora police.

“This defendant did this on a regular basis – he meets boys online, picks them up, brings them to his house and then films them engaged in sex acts with him,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Jake Adkins said during sentencing April 19. “This was his choice and his actions, and he did this over and over.”

The mother of the victim also spoke during sentencing.

“A grown man enticed and lured a child for his sexual gratification – he is a sick and disgusting predator,” the mother told the judge. “Such disgusting acts of a predator can never be forgiven. We will be living with this forever.”

Judge Whitaker acknowledged that the defendant had no prior criminal history.

“But the facts are pretty horrific in this case,” she said. “It was a prolonged process committed numerous times, over time … There were calculated actions and activities. It was thought out and planned.”

An indeterminate sentence means that Sandoval will serve at least 22 years in the Department of Corrections. After that, he will be released only if he is deemed to have successfully completed treatment and is no longer a danger. If and when he is released, he must register as a sex offender for life and remain on parole for 20 years to life.