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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — A Rifle woman who organized a protest against the Garfield County Department of Human Services faces prosecution for alleged perjury along with her ex-husband.
Tia Drinkhouse, 36, and her ex-husband, James Drinkhouse, 44, were arrested on warrants Jan. 15 and held on suspicion of perjury. They’re both free on $5,000 bond.
An investigator for the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in an affidavit that the Drinkhouses both said in court in July, under oath, that they lied or embellished things to try to prevent the other from taking off with their seven children. Both said they believed protection orders they asked for in the past wouldn’t have been granted if they gave true statements in court documents, the investigator said.
James Drinkhouse claimed in a December 2005 motion for a protection order that Tia Drinkhouse said to him in front of their son that she can understand how people can kill their kids and themselves, the investigator said.
In July, James Drinkhouse admitted he lied in the document, saying in court, “I have lied to the court before to protect my children, yes,” according to the investigator.
One phone number for James Drinkhouse was disconnected. Both Drinkhouses had no current public phone listings.
Tia Drinkhouse claimed in a 2003 request for a protection order that James jumped on her and spat on her after he found her packing to leave and she wouldn’t tell him where a recording device was. In court in July, Tia Drinkhouse admitted she knew the allegations weren’t true and said she signed the court document without reading the whole thing, according to the investigator.
Tia Drinkhouse organized a picket and protest against county human services in Rifle on Sept. 8. She claimed at the time her seven children were removed from her home based only on false allegations by her mother-in-law instead of the facts. She said then that many others had similar problems with human services and added, “We just want people to wake up and see what’s going on here. We’re just asking for the system to be fair.”
People at the protest held signs proclaiming, “Social services kidnapped my babies — Yours could be next!” and, “Stop social services abuse of power!”
Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121
pfowler@postindependent.com
Tia Drinkhouse, 36, and her ex-husband, James Drinkhouse, 44, were arrested on warrants Jan. 15 and held on suspicion of perjury. They’re both free on $5,000 bond.
An investigator for the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in an affidavit that the Drinkhouses both said in court in July, under oath, that they lied or embellished things to try to prevent the other from taking off with their seven children. Both said they believed protection orders they asked for in the past wouldn’t have been granted if they gave true statements in court documents, the investigator said.
James Drinkhouse claimed in a December 2005 motion for a protection order that Tia Drinkhouse said to him in front of their son that she can understand how people can kill their kids and themselves, the investigator said.
In July, James Drinkhouse admitted he lied in the document, saying in court, “I have lied to the court before to protect my children, yes,” according to the investigator.
One phone number for James Drinkhouse was disconnected. Both Drinkhouses had no current public phone listings.
Tia Drinkhouse claimed in a 2003 request for a protection order that James jumped on her and spat on her after he found her packing to leave and she wouldn’t tell him where a recording device was. In court in July, Tia Drinkhouse admitted she knew the allegations weren’t true and said she signed the court document without reading the whole thing, according to the investigator.
Tia Drinkhouse organized a picket and protest against county human services in Rifle on Sept. 8. She claimed at the time her seven children were removed from her home based only on false allegations by her mother-in-law instead of the facts. She said then that many others had similar problems with human services and added, “We just want people to wake up and see what’s going on here. We’re just asking for the system to be fair.”
People at the protest held signs proclaiming, “Social services kidnapped my babies — Yours could be next!” and, “Stop social services abuse of power!”
Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121
pfowler@postindependent.com
