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Former judge accused of violating no-contact order

Staff Report
Jason Jovanovich
Staff Photo |

Jason Jovanovich, a former Garfield County judge and now a lawyer in private practice, will make an appearance on the other side of the bench next month, facing potential charges of felony stalking, harassment and violation of a restraining order.

Jovanovich, 45, of Glenwood Springs, was suspended from the bench in May 2010 over allegations that he exhibited “inappropriate behavior” toward his staff. He chose not to seek another term.

He now is accused of using a prepaid cell phone to contact his ex-girlfriend in California, the affidavit for the case reports. It indicates that both written and telephone contact are prohibited by the protection order, which was put in place following a domestic dispute in which Jovanovich was deemed the “dominant aggressor.”



According to the affidavit, local law enforcement became aware of the situation after a woman who did some work for Jovanovich said she found out about the protection order after being asked to contact his ex on Jovanovich’s behalf.

Police contacted the ex and found that she had continued to receive messages. They traced the number and found that texts sent around the same time as those from Jovanovich’s personal cell often used the same or nearby towers — including at least one occasion when he traveled to the Front Range.



In the affidavit, Jovanovich’s ex summarizes the message of the texts as, “I will never stop because you are the love of my life, and I will not let you go.”

“Every time he contacts me I get scared and afraid that he would show up at my door,“ she added.

Jovanovich was released on a $5000 personal recognizance bond on August 14.


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