Lawyers for an Aspen family charged with giving cocaine to a minor said Monday that evidence gathered against their client does not support the most serious charge filed against them.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive attorneys did a deep dive into the evidence and found no evidence of (distribution of cocaine to a minor),\u201d said Richard Cummins, one of the lawyers for Joseph Lipsey III.<\/p>\n
Yale Galanter, Lipsey\u2019s other attorney, said the discovery materials indicate that prosecutor Don Nottingham needs to re-interview two witnesses in the case. Nottingham declined to comment after court Monday.<\/p>\n
Lipsey, 56, along with his wife, Shira Lipsey, 44, and their son Joseph Lipsey IV, 19, are facing a total of 41 charges related to parties<\/a> thrown at their Aspen Highlands home in which minors where allegedly allowed to consume alcohol and drugs.<\/p>\n The most serious charge filed against both parents is distribution of cocaine to a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of eight years in prison and a maximum of 32 years upon conviction. Their son faces the same charge, though because he was less than two years older than the minor allegedly offered cocaine Jan. 3 at the Lipsey home, the penalties if he\u2019s convicted are not as severe.<\/p>\n The parents also are charged with 11 felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and three misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to minors.<\/p>\n In addition to the cocaine distribution charge, the younger Lipsey faces one count of distribution of MDMA, felony contributing to the delinquency of a minor and several misdemeanors.<\/p>\n The charges are based, in part, on Snapchat videos taken by a minor allegedly given cocaine by the Lipseys, as well as a minor witness who allegedly saw the other minor snort the cocaine, according to court documents.<\/p>\n Besides the disagreement over the cocaine distribution charge, Galanter said relations with the District Attorney\u2019s Office are cooperative and going smoothly.<\/p>\n The case is next scheduled to be heard July 15.<\/p>\n