News from neighbors
Death penalty repeal passes Colorado General Assembly
DENVER POST, Feb. 26 — The Colorado state legislature has taken the historic step of passing a bill to abolish the death penalty, as 21 other states have previously done.
After nearly five hours of debate Wednesday, the state House voted 38-27 for the repeal, with three Democrats joining all 24 House Republicans in voting against the bill.
In total, lawmakers spent about 36 hours debating and taking testimony on the bill since late January, when the bill moved through the Senate.
Many lawmakers said it was among the toughest issues they’d ever voted on. Some cried.
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DA Lewton indicted on drug charges
STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE, Feb. 29 — The district attorney for the 13th Judicial District, which includes Logan County, was indicted by a grand jury on drug charges Thursday following an investigation by the state’s attorney general.
Brittny Lewton, 40, was charged with three drug felonies, including conspiracy and possession, as well as official misconduct, a misdemeanor.
According to an Associated Press story posted Friday by the Colorado Sun, a warrant was issued for Lewton’s arrest and later canceled. Logan County Sheriff Brett Powell said Lewton’s attorney told him she planned to turn herself in Friday.
The online court records did not say what type of drug or drugs were specified in the indictment, which was not immediately made available in Logan County, one of seven counties in the 13th Judicial District.
Stan Garnett, a Denver attorney who has represented Lewton since August 2019, said in a written statement he has not seen the indictment because it remains under seal by the court.
“I can say that I intend to vigorously defend Ms. Lewton against these allegations, and I believe a jury will find her not guilty of them,” Garnett said. “I would note that these appear to be the same allegations dating from a single incident last July that were reviewed by the (district attorney) in the 14th Judicial District, who did not file charges.”
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