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Glenwood court roundup: Trial set in cyclist’s death

The 9th District Court scheduled a May trial for Julie Broze, accused of vehicular homicide for the car vs. bike death of Scott William Adams last summer in Glenwood Springs.

Public defender Molly Owens on Tuesday asked for more time to have an additional meeting with Broze and determine whether she was in a position to enter a “knowing, intelligent and voluntary guilty plea.” But the prosecution said the deal they had offered was no longer on the table.

Prosecutor Zach Parsons said the plea offer initially expired Dec. 14 but the prosecution had extended the deadline to Tuesday.



District Judge James Boyd determined that, since Broze did not accept the plea agreement, the case should be scheduled for trial. At Broze’s Jan. 8 court appearance, Boyd said he would not accept any more routine continuances.

Adams, 54, was on his bicycle just before midnight June 3, 2018, and allegedly was crossing against the traffic light on Highway 82 at 27th Street in Glenwood Springs when he was struck by Broze’s car, according to eyewitness and dash-cam footage. Broze was cited with drunken driving in addition to the vehicular homicide charge.



The week-long trial is scheduled to begin May 15, with the next review hearing scheduled for Feb. 26. Broze appeared out of custody on $15,000 bond.

Deal in HOmecoming threats case?

Cesar Esau-Membrano, charged with felony menacing for allegedly making shooting threats outside Glenwood Springs High School during the homecoming dance in October of last year, is awaiting details on a potential plea offer from the prosecution.

Owens, the public defender also representing Esau in court Tuesday, said she is communicating with the prosecution on the potential plea.

Parsons said the district attorney’s office has a “large hearing” with the victims and their families in the near future.

Esau-Membrano, now 19, appeared out of custody on $8,500 bond. He was arrested after authorities say he made threatening gestures, as if with a gun, outside of Glenwood Springs High School during the homecoming dance Oct. 8, according to an affidavit.

The school was placed on “lockout” for several hours until nearly 1 a.m. that night, meaning no one but authorized personnel were allowed into or out of the building.

The arraignment hearing was continued to Feb. 26.

denver homicide suspect faces local Drug charges

Prosecutors formally filed charges against Manuel Ocampo, 29, for a number of alleged drug offenses, felony possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and the petty offense of possessing a meth pipe.

Ocampo was arrested in Rifle Jan. 10 after Garfield County law enforcement tracked him to an apartment where authorities say they found more than a pound of methamphetamine, much of it wrapped in small doses allegedly for resale.

Ocampo is a suspect in a Denver double homicide from 2013. The Denver Police Department contacted Garfield County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month to say they had tracked Ocampo’s cell phone to Glenwood Springs, and continued to follow it as he went back and forth to Rifle.

There are outstanding bench warrants for Ocampo in Adams and Jefferson counties.

Ocampo is in custody in Garfield County, with bond set at $50,000. He is scheduled to be back in court March 12.

tphippen@postindependent.com


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