{"id":47278,"date":"2020-05-05T13:23:01","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T19:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyhinews.com\/?p=64498"},"modified":"2020-05-05T15:31:15","modified_gmt":"2020-05-05T21:31:15","slug":"lucas-pleads-not-guilty-to-misconduct-oppression-false-reporting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kift\/local-news\/lucas-pleads-not-guilty-to-misconduct-oppression-false-reporting\/","title":{"rendered":"Lucas pleads not guilty to misconduct, oppression, false reporting"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the first court appearance for former Kremmling Police Chief Jamie Lucas since being charged with misconduct in January, he pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial via his attorney.<\/p>\n

Lucas\u2019 attorney Jeffrey Eidsness entered the plea Tuesday in Grand County Court as he requested a two-day jury trial, which Judge Nicholas Catanzarite set for Oct. 13-14 potentially extending through Oct. 15.<\/p>\n

“We look forward to having this case be heard,” Eidsness said.<\/p>\n

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<\/i> Timeline of Events<\/div>\n
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Dec. 4 \u2013 Grand County\u00a0Sheriff\u2019s Office takes over the investigation<\/a>\u00a0into an alleged case of animal abuse involving three juveniles.<\/p>\n

Dec. 13 \u2013 Fraser Winter Park Police Chief Glen Trainor\u00a0confirms his department is investigating<\/a>\u00a0Kremmling Police Chief Jamie Lucas for potential misconduct.<\/p>\n

Dec. 20 \u2013 The town of\u00a0Kremmling places Lucas on paid administrative<\/a>\u00a0leave after receiving a letter from the 14th Judicial District Attorney\u2019s Office that Lucas had been Brady listed.<\/p>\n

Jan. 2 \u2013 The\u00a0DA\u2019s office reviewed the Fraser Winter Park Police Department\u2019s investigation<\/a>\u00a0after it was completed in December.<\/p>\n

Jan. 22 \u2013 In response to the allegations of misconduct,\u00a0Lucas takes a polygraph and requests a special prosecutor<\/a>. The DA refutes Lucas\u2019 claims.<\/p>\n

Jan. 31 – The DA’s office files 15 charges against Lucas<\/a> after reviewing the concluded Fraser Winter Park Police Department investigation.<\/p>\n

April 22 – Kremmling’s town board votes unanimously not to reappoint Lucas<\/a> as police chief and directs the town manager to begin a job search for a new chief.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Eidsness also asked the judge to set a status hearing in June because he said he plans to subpoena documents for Lucas’ defense from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. Lucas and Eidsness are also still discussing whether they will file for a special prosecutor. <\/p>\n

After town leaders elected not to reappoint Lucas as Kremmling\u2019s police chief on April 22, Lucas shared on Facebook that he is deeply disappointed with the decision and continued to accuse the sheriff’s office and the 14th Judicial District Attorney\u2019s Office of corruption. Eidsness echoed the sentiment again on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

“Of course the chief and myself are disappointed given that we have not had the opportunity to address these allegations in court and that the town declined our offer to meet with them and discuss what’s going on,” Lucas’ attorney said.<\/p>\n

Kremmling\u2019s town board voted not to reappoint Lucas as chief of police after receiving a letter from Lucas urging the board to allow him to continue in the role.<\/p>\n

Lucas had been on paid administrative leave since Dec. 20 after questions on his handling of an animal abuse case, where three juveniles are alleged to have killed a cat, sparked an investigation.<\/p>\n

Based on the results of the investigation, the DA\u2019s office charged Lucas with four counts each of first degree official misconduct, second degree official misconduct and official oppression, and three counts of false reporting to authorities.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear why the board didn\u2019t reappoint Lucas, as none of the board members commented on the reappointment nor Lucas\u2019s letter during the April 22 meeting. Town Manager Dan Stoltman said he couldn\u2019t speak to the board\u2019s decision. <\/p>\n

\u201cI really can’t comment on personnel matters,” Stoltman said. <\/p>\n

Stoltman added that he has begun searching for an interim chief for the police department and plans to finalize the job posting for a permanent chief with the board at its next meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m reaching out to Summit County, Silverthorne PD, I have reached out to Grand County and they’re all going to get back to me as soon as they can,” he said. “The goal is to have some candidates (for interim chief) for the board to review come the next meeting. At that next meeting, I will probably have a discussion on the police chief job description and whether they want to make any changes.”<\/p>\n

After the meeting, Lucas took to Facebook to thank his supporters and express his disappointment, as well as echo claims from his letter that he is being targeted by the DA’s and sheriff’s offices.<\/p>\n