"Thomas Colver pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of robbery instead of armed robbery . . ." Why? He was part of an armed robbery spree. OK, he got 16 years, but he used a gun and they drop the charges?
Teen OKs plea deal in robbery
By The Associated Press
Sept. 14, 2000 - ASPEN - Hours into jury selection at his trial, a 19-year-old opted for a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in the armed robbery of a clerk at a condominium office.
Thomas Colver pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of robbery instead of armed robbery, said deputy district attorney Lawson Wills. Colver also pleaded guilty to theft.
In return for the plea, Wills dropped a charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, also a felony.
Colver faces up to 16 years in prison on the robbery charge.
As part of the prosecution's case, Wills had called as witnesses seven of the dozen local teens involved in a crime spree in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area last year.
That spree included armed robberies at the Aspen Alps condominiums, Clarks Market in Aspen and the Village Market in Snowmass Village, as well as numerous burglaries of local businesses, a breakin at a Twining Flats home and the theft of two cars.
Colver was suspected only in the Aspen Alps robbery, which he was accused of committing with 20-year-old Anthony Rizzuto. Rizzuto still faces trial on charges similar to those that Colver originally faced.
Copyright 2000 The Denver Post.
Teen OKs plea deal in robbery
By The Associated Press
Sept. 14, 2000 - ASPEN - Hours into jury selection at his trial, a 19-year-old opted for a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in the armed robbery of a clerk at a condominium office.
Thomas Colver pleaded guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of robbery instead of armed robbery, said deputy district attorney Lawson Wills. Colver also pleaded guilty to theft.
In return for the plea, Wills dropped a charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, also a felony.
Colver faces up to 16 years in prison on the robbery charge.
As part of the prosecution's case, Wills had called as witnesses seven of the dozen local teens involved in a crime spree in the Aspen and Snowmass Village area last year.
That spree included armed robberies at the Aspen Alps condominiums, Clarks Market in Aspen and the Village Market in Snowmass Village, as well as numerous burglaries of local businesses, a breakin at a Twining Flats home and the theft of two cars.
Colver was suspected only in the Aspen Alps robbery, which he was accused of committing with 20-year-old Anthony Rizzuto. Rizzuto still faces trial on charges similar to those that Colver originally faced.
Copyright 2000 The Denver Post.