Westsider Westsider 10-4-2013
North Jeffco
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 39
POSTAL PATRON
October 4,2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
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Election: Jeffco School board candidates trade views. See Page 20
Sigg pleads guilty to all charges Sentencing date set in November By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Austin Sigg, the 18-year-old accused of murdering 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway,
pleaded guilty to all charges on Tuesday, including first degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault on a child. The announcement was made just days before the trial was set to being on Oct. 3. District Court Chief Judge Stephen Munsinger accepted the plea and set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 18, which is expected to take two days.
Sara Ridgeway, third from the left, listens as Jefferson County District Attorney Peter Weir speaks to the media about Austin Sigg’s guilty plea during a press conference on Tuesday. Photo by Ashley Reimers
During Tuesday’s hearing, Sigg appeared in dress clothes leaving behind his jail apparel. It was made clear in the court that the decision to plead guilty was Sigg’s, going against the advice of his counsel. On Sept. 30, Sigg’s attorneys contacted the prosecution team and told them Sigg wanted to plead guilty. This plea covers 15 charges, including the attempted kidnapping charge in the Ketner Lake jogger case. Sigg faces life in prison, without the possibility of parole until after 40 years. But during a press conference after the hearing, District Attorney Peter Weir said during sentencing, the prosecution will be asking for a sentence of life in prison, without parole eligibility. “Today Mr. Sigg pled guilty to all charges. He has been held fully accountable for his criminal acts. There was no plea bargain. There was no ‘deal.’ No charges were dismissed as part of a plea bargain,” Weir said. “However, three counts of felony murder merge into the count of first degree murder – after deliberation count. A person can only be convicted and sentenced to the murder of a person once.” Jessica’s mother, Sara Ridgeway and other family members were present for the hearing and the press conference, but did not speak to the media. Upon hearing the news of the guilty plea, prosecutor Dana Easter said it was still difficult for the family because of the ups and downs of the case.
“The first person we called was the mother, and it was difficult for her,” Easter said. “There is nothing joyful in this case. I think it was hard for the family to hear because you get your mind set for a trial and then to have it go away is Sigg difficult.” Westminster Police Chief Lee Birk spoke during the press conference thanking several law enforcement agencies for their hard work on the case. He said the date of the guilty plea serves as a milestone in terms of closure and the healing process for both the Ridgeway family and the community. “We want to thank the many public safety agencies and partners who assisted the Westminster Police Department in this case,” Birk said. “We want to also thank the Ridgeway family for putting their trust in our agency.” Jessica disappeared on Oct. 5, 2012 on her way to school in Westminster. Her disappearance triggered a massive search effort by law enforcement and volunteers. Parts of her body were found in a remote part of Arvada and later in Sigg’s home. Sigg admitted to kidnapping and murdering Jessica to his mother before law enforcement was called. He was arrested on Oct. 23, 2012.
Man found guilty of shooting Gomez shot police officer, then fled the scene Staff Report
Grove of Fun
The Orchard Festival on Saturday in Historic Westminster featured a variety of activities, entertainment, food and booths. The art galleries in the area, like Iddle Bits of This and That, were also open to the public. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Woman spreads lung awareness through race By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Patricia Lyman considers her lung cancer diagnosis a lucky one. The 16-year Westminster resident had come in to be screened for another health issue, but left with a Stage 1 lung cancer diagnosis in September last year. “My diagnosis was an incidental finding. I had no symptoms at all,” she said. “Most people find out about lung cancer after they have some symptoms, and by that time it’s usually at stage 3 or 4. I was very lucky.” After the diagnosis, Lyman underwent surgery to remove the cancer, and since then she’s had two clean CAT Scan screen-
ings. The gratefully healthy Lyman is involved in the Free to Breath Denver 5K Run/Walk as an advocate for research and fundraising, hoping to spread lung cancer awareness. She said she wants to do whatever she can to help others in her same situation as well as prevent future lung cancer diagnoses. “As an advocate I help people become aware of the lung cancer symptoms and spread awareness,” she said. “Lung cancer is pretty much the number one cancer killer not just in the United State but the world. There is a great need for research, and for research to happen there needs to be funding.” The fourth annual Free to Breathe Den-
ver 5K Run/Walk is Oct. 6 at Washington Park, 701 S. Franklin St. in Denver. Registration and check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by the opening rally at 8:45 a.m. with the start of the race at 9 a.m. Cost is $35 to participate and all proceeds support the National Lung Cancer Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to doubling lung cancer survival by 2022. “Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer,” Lyman said. “Most people know someone who has been affected by the lung cancer and this event is a great way to help fund more research.” For more information, visit www.FreetoBreathe.org/denver.
Following a four-day trial, a Jefferson County jury found Larry Lynn Gomez, 34, guilty of shooting a Westminster police officer in November 2012. The jury trial began on Sept. 16. Gomez was found guilty of attempted murder of a police officer and first degree assault. On Nov. 7, 2012 a Westminster police officer made a traffic stop at 72nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. Gomez was the driver of the car and was stopped for what appeared to be a routine license plate violation. As the officer got out of his marked patrol car and approached Gomez’s car, Gomez leaned out of the car window, shot the officer, and then sped away. On Nov. 6, 2012, Gomez was in Denver where he is alleged to have fired shots at Denver Police officers during a traffic stop. The Denver District Attorney filed charges in that case and a trial date in Denver has been set for Nov. 18. Working together with Westminster, Denver and Aurora police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney investigators arrested Gomez in Aurora two days later, on Nov. 9, 2012. “We are very pleased with the outcome of our trial,” said District Attorney Peter Weir. “Fortunately, in this case the officer didn’t sustain life-threatening injuries. But anyone who fires at a police officer will be held accountable. Great police work and cooperation between these agencies resulted in Mr. Gomez’s swift arrest and prosecution.”
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