Latest news with #FremontCountySheriff'sOffice
CBS News
19-04-2025
- CBS News
Men arrested while hauling 180,000 rounds of ammo from Utah into Colorado
Two residents of Mexico were recently arrested in Colorado while transporting 180,000 rounds of large-caliber ammunition. They were pulled over after driving toward deputies and failing to dim their van's headlights. Two Fremont County detectives were driving on State Highway 50 in Cañon City on March 26, according to a federal arrest affidavit. The van was coming in the opposite direction and left its headlights on the highest setting as it passed the deputies' vehicle. It is against Colorado state law for a driver to fail to dim his or her vehicle's headlights when there is oncoming traffic within 500 feet of it. The detectives followed the white GMC passenger van to a gas station and pulled in behind it. Both men inside the van - Caesar Ramon Martinez Solis, 41, and Humberto Ivan Amador Gavira, 24, both of Mexico - presented United States Visas as their forms of identification. Detectives asked to search the van. Martinez Solis, the driver, gave permission. Inside the cargo compartment, the detectives found approximately 150 boxes of .308-caliber ammunition and approximately 30 boxes of 7.62 ammunition. Each box was labeled as containing 1,000 rounds. Neither man's documentation permitted them to be possession of weapons or ammunition, even for hunting or sporting purposes, according to the federal affidavit. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office then detained both men and contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. The two men were subsequently interviewed by ICE agents and others from the Denver offices of the U.S. Homeland Security and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Martinez Solis told them that he and his brother-in-law, Amador Gavira, entered the U.S. the day before. They traveled to Denver, bought the van there, then drove to Salt Lake City and purchased the ammunition from a store, as recounted in the affidavit. Neither man's visas allowed them to transport ammunition or firearms across state lines. Martinez Solis told investigators the ammunition was, to the best of his knowledge, destined for Pueblo. Both men were charged Wednesday by federal prosecutors with Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by Alien Admitted Under a Nonimmigrant Visa. The case is part of Operation Take Back America. In a press release announcing the charges, federal prosecutors called it "a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime." The men are being prosecuted in Denver by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. They are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Cañon City man allegedly poisoned puppies with antifreeze
(FREMONT COUNTY, Colo.) — A man was arrested on several counts of aggravated cruelty for allegedly poisoning puppies. On Wednesday, March 19, Animal Control deputies were made aware of a possible dog poisoning at a property in unincorporated Fremont County. Deputies were advised that the dogs' owner, John Kessler of Cañon City, had poisoned Chihuahua puppies with antifreeze. According to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, six puppies were then impounded and taken to a veterinary clinic for treatment. Further investigation also led to the impoundment of another dog, which was severely emaciated, from the property. A container of antifreeze was also impounded from the kitchen. Kessler was placed into custody for six counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and one count of Cruelty to Animals – Neglect. Kessler was booked into the Fremont County Detention Center, he was later advised in court and was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
05-03-2025
- CBS News
Co-owner of Colorado funeral home withdraws guilty plea for federal charges
One of the co-owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Colorado has withdrawn her guilty plea to federal charges. Carie Hallford withdrew her guilty plea in federal court and will instead go to trial. Carie Hallford is married to Jon Hallford, whose guilty plea to federal charges remained intact in connection with their business in southern Colorado. The couple faced charges in an indictment from the federal government for allegedly misspending nearly $900,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. They each pleaded guilty to defrauding customers in October 2024. As part of the plea agreement, Jon and Carie Hallford each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. That agreement stipulated that prosecutors will not request more than 15 years imprisonment. This week, a federal court rejected that portion of Jon Hallford's plea agreement for the maximum sentence. Court documents state that he has accepted a new plea deal on federal fraud charges that doesn't put a cap on sentencing. Jon Hallford is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on March 20. No trial date has been set in federal court for Carie Hallford. The Hallfords were charged over their alleged failure to bury or cremate the bodies of people, even though they received money for those services. The federal indictment arrived after t he investigation into the funeral home began in early October 2023 when neighbors reported a foul odor to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. Investigators discovered at least 190 improperly stored bodies inside the building, which was demolished last year. The couple was arrested in Oklahoma in November 2023. Jon and Carie Hallford have pleaded guilty to hundreds of state charges in Colorado including abuse of a corpse, forgery and money laundering. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on April 18.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Pueblo deputy arrested on harassment, mischief charges
(PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) — A deputy with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) has been arrested on harassment and criminal mischief charges. According to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office (FCSO), Austen Philips was arrested on Jan. 24 in Cañon City. PCSO confirmed to FOX21 News that Philips is employed by its agency as a deputy. He has been placed on administrative leave, PCSO said. Philips previously worked as an officer with the Cañon City Police Department but was terminated from that position in August 2024 according to Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) certifications. Philips is facing misdemeanor charges of harassment and criminal mischief filed under domestic violence. He posted bond on the day he was arrested and has since been released. He is due in Fremont County court on Feb. 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
