The 14-year-old boy charged with killing a Denver bar bouncer last month was repeatedly released from custody in a preceding juvenile case over the objection of prosecutors who thought he posed a danger to the community, according to court records obtained by The Denver Post.
The teenager was also wanted on a warrant at the time of the killing that would have kept him temporarily jailed without bond had he been arrested, records show.
The teen, whom The Post is not naming because he is a juvenile, is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 49-year-old William “Todd” Kidd on July 10 outside the Federales Denver bar at 29th and Larimer streets in Denver’s River North Arts District.
Kidd, who worked at the bar, was intervening in a disturbance when he was shot, police have said. He died two days later on July 12.
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The teenager’s journey through Colorado’s juvenile courts highlights how the system is designed to keep children out of custody through a focus on pretrial release and a statutory cap on the number of kids who can be incarcerated in the state — an approach supporters hail as the best way to help vulnerable youths, but critics decry as soft on crime.
“The vast majority of kids going through the system are not safety risks to anybody,” said Emma Mclean-Riggs, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado. “Sometimes these cases are used as leverage to produce more incarceration of children when there is not sufficient context.”
George Brauchler, a former district attorney and current Republican candidate for district attorney in the 23rd Judicial District, said while he understands the juvenile justice system’s aim to keep kids out of detention, the approach can be detrimental to both youths and broader community safety.
“We have gone so far off the deep end of the criminal justice reform spectrum that we are rolling the dice for a lot of communities because it makes us feel good about how we are treating kids,” he said.
Charged with stealing cars
The 14-year-old boy was arrested on charges of stealing cars in Douglas County in December and again in Adams County in January, court records show.
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In Douglas County, he was charged in juvenile court with motor vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit motor vehicle theft, criminal mischief and false reporting, said Eric Ross, a spokesman for the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. He declined to comment further.
In Adams County, the 14-year-old was charged in juvenile court with motor vehicle theft, resisting arrest, vehicular eluding and obstructing a police officer. Chris Hopper, spokesman for the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, declined to comment on the case.
In the Adams County case, the boy on multiple occasions violated the conditions of his personal recognizance bond, records obtained by The Post show. He sometimes missed required meetings, violated his GPS monitoring and struggled to keep his GPS unit charged.
Personal recognizance bonds allow defendants to be released from custody on the promise they will return to court, rather than requiring defendants to pay money as collateral before their release. In 2021, state lawmakers required that all bonds set in juvenile cases be personal recognizance bonds.
“There was kind of a universal understanding that holding kids because their families are poor doesn’t make any sense,” Mclean-Riggs said of the 2021 change.
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In late April, Adams County prosecutors filed a motion to revoke the boy’s bond after a fifth bond violation report was filed in the case, the records show.
The teen was arrested, and during a court hearing on May 1, his attorneys asked that he be released on bond into his mother’s custody. Prosecutors objected, citing “community safety concerns” because of his GPS violations, the records show.
Magistrate Michal Lord-Blegen granted a personal recognizance bond with several conditions, including that the teenager remain on GPS monitoring, attend school and therapy, and stay away from weapons, drugs and alcohol.
Just over two weeks later, another bond violation report — the seventh overall — was filed in the case, records show. Prosecutors once again sought to revoke the boy’s bond, and the boy was arrested again.
On May 17, Lord-Blegen again allowed the teenager to be released from custody, again over the objection of prosecutors who sought for the boy to be held with no bond.
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On May 28, the 14-year-old ran away from home on his way to court, according to the records. Two days later, Lord-Blegen issued a warrant for his arrest and ordered the boy be detained on a no-bond hold when he was taken into custody.
But the teenager was not arrested again until July 16 — days after Denver police allege he shot and killed Kidd. Officers found the boy in Casper, Wyoming, police have said.
The records obtained by the Post do not specifically indicate why the magistrate issued the personal recognizance bonds, but do note that the teenager had been attending therapy, was referred to a mentor and, until the homicide, was not arrested on new charges, only on bond violations. Lord-Blegen could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The 14-year-old boy appeared in juvenile court Tuesday for a hearing in the Denver homicide case, but a judge closed the courtroom to the public after learning that members of the media were in attendance.
A focus on rehabilitation
Juvenile court operates differently than adult court and is designed to focus on rehabilitation and the child’s best interests, rather than punitive measures, attorneys told The Post. All of the attorneys who spoke with The Post were not familiar with the teenager’s case and spoke generally about juvenile justice.
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Judges can hold a child in detention without a bond if they find the child poses a substantial risk of harm to others and community-based alternatives to incarceration will not work, state law says.
But the presumption in juvenile court is that the young defendants should be released from custody whenever possible, because childhood incarceration has been proven so harmful to youths, Mclean-Riggs said.
In cases involving property crime — like motor vehicle theft — and not violent crime, youths typically will be released on bond while their cases are pending, said Tally Zuckerman, a Denver criminal defense attorney.
“I would honestly be shocked if a kid was held on a no-bond hold for a motor vehicle theft,” she said.
Children are also given extra leeway for bond violations, she added, particularly for violations like missing school or returning a positive drug test that don’t involve violence or new crimes.
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Technical violations of bond often are not a good indicator of a person’s level of threat to a community, said Tristan Gorman, policy director for the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar.
“That happens a lot with people who are poor, people who don’t have transportation, people with mental health issues or any number of things,” she said. “But it also happens a lot with teenagers who don’t have a fully developed frontal lobe. So… if it is mostly about GPS and check-ins, that is not really indicative of, is this kid safe in the community?”
Brauchler said the leeway given to youths in juvenile court has in some cases swung too far toward rehabilitation and away from accountability.
“I want us to be rehabilitation-focused where appropriate, and that applies to 98, 99% of juvenile cases,” he said. “But the rest of them, we have to have the tools in the toolbox to treat them more seriously.”
Juvenile bed cap
Colorado lawmakers have passed a series of laws over the last two decades aimed at limiting the number of juveniles held in the state’s juvenile detention centers, citing the long-term harm of childhood incarceration.
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Legislators first set a cap on the number of youths who could be detained statewide in 2003, limiting the number of available beds for juvenile detention to 479. That cap has been steadily lowered — most recently in 2021 to 215 beds. Lawmakers also allowed for an additional 22 temporary emergency beds that become available if the state hits its juvenile detention limit.
The bed cap has drawn ire in recent years as the state has neared the limit, with some prosecutors, law enforcement officers and politicians saying the ceiling pushes children who should be detained back into the community.
“From a pure logical standpoint, it makes no sense,” Brauchler said. “It takes a fixed number — not a percentage of juveniles in the state, not a percentage of juveniles in the system, not a percentage of crime, not a percentage of anything — it’s a fixed number of beds statewide, regardless of the amount of criminal activity that takes place by juveniles or the risk they pose to the community.”
Some children would be better off in detention than in their home environment, where they might face the same pressures that led to the first crime and be more likely to re-offend, said Aurora City Councilman Dustin Zvonek, who last year championed a city resolution asking the state to abolish the juvenile detention bed cap.
“They’re still little kids,” he said. “And to be running around neighborhoods with a weapon, running from SWAT officers, it’s hard to wrap your mind around — but it is a reality we face, and so we have to have a system in place that protects the Aurora community.”
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Mclean-Riggs said children who end up in the juvenile justice system have typically first been failed by myriad other systems — from education to welfare to health care — and that a holistic approach is needed, rather than a reactionary turn to incarceration.
“The place to intervene effectively for these children is years before they touch the criminal legal system,” she said “…The view that says the answer here is pretrial detention is myopic and is not accounting for all of the other systems that were supposed to hold and intervene for this child and his family.”
It’s not clear whether the bed cap played a role in the 14-year-old’s releases in Adams County.
On the morning of May 1, when he was released on bond after it was revoked, the state had 213 juveniles in detention, said Heidi Bauer, spokeswoman for the Division of Youth Services, just under the 215 limit.
On May 17, the second time he was released after a revocation, 204 juveniles were in detention at the start of the day.
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Bauer noted the number of filled beds frequently fluctuates. Over the last six months, the state’s average daily juvenile detention population has hovered between 185 and 206 youths.
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DENVER — For the first time in 2025, the City of Denver will offer up its e-bike rebate vouchers on Tuesday.
Vouchers for standard e-bikes are worth $450, while those in need of an adaptive e-bike can receive vouchers worth $1,400.
Residents can combine the vouchers with the State of Colorado E-Bike Tax Credit, which is also worth $450. Rebates can cover up to 80% of the e-bike’s total price, excluding sales tax. That means if an e-bike costs $1,000, the Denver rebate and Colorado tax credits can only cover up to $800.
Sue Baldwin, the electrified mobility program manager for the Denver Office of Climate Action, said people should have everything prepared before the website opens up to applications at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
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Denver7’s Ethan Carlson
“One thousand residents will have the ability to get through and get applications,” said Baldwin. “Typically, we have between 15 and 17,000 people on the website at 11 a.m., so they will go quickly. The best thing to do is have all of your documents uploaded on your computer or phone so that when it hits 11 o’clock, you’re just hitting submit.”
This year, the Denver rebate program is only for income-qualified individuals. The goal is to expand access to transportation options to as many people as possible.
“An e-bike is a little bit more expensive than a normal bike,” said Baldwin. “So, who doesn’t want a little bit of financial support in order to move forward into the next level of technology?”
In order to qualify, an applicant’s income must be either:
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Below 100% of the state of Colorado’s median income
Below 200% of the relevant federal poverty level
Between 60% to 100% of the area median income
Denver7’s Ethan Carlson
Over 30 e-bike shops throughout the city participate in the program. Mike Fritz, manager and lead mechanic at Pedego Denver, has seen first-hand how some residents could only buy e-bikes because of previous years’ vouchers.
“It’s the difference between somebody buying an Amazon bike and buying a bike that can actually be taken care of in the long haul,” said Fritz. “A lot of people see the value in having a bike shop actually within their grasp in case anything happens.”
Fritz encourages people to buy from a local shop that can also work on and repair their products. Someone who buys an e-bike online will have to figure out maintenance on their own. The Denver e-bike rebate program helps support these local shops.
“There’s an express need for things like e-bikes, especially for people that don’t have cars, people that are kind of over public transportation,” said Fritz.
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If you miss Tuesday’s rebate drop, don’t worry! The city will release additional vouchers on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 25
Tuesday, May 27
Tuesday, July 29
Tuesday, September 30
Tuesday, November 25
For more information on the Denver e-bike rebate program, you can check out the city’s website here.
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Following years of advocacy to Xcel Energy and the City and County of Denver, community members in the Sun Valley and La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhoods, in coordination with Historic Denver, have filed a landmark designation to save the historic Zuni Steam Plant from demolition. This effort comes after Xcel Energy notified community members on February 25, 2025, that the building had been put on the market for sale for 30 days. If a purchase agreement is not signed within those 30 days, Xcel has previously stated that they will seek a demolition permit from the City and County of Denver.
For over a century, the Zuni Steam Plant, located at 1349 Zuni Street, fueled Denver’s growth, shaping both its physical and social landscape. Built in 1901 on the city’s western edge, it was strategically placed to power expansion, supply energy to homes and businesses, and would come to support Mayor Speer’s vision of Denver as the “Paris on the Platte.” It lit up the city’s thriving theater district and kept pace with a booming population—growing from 134,000 in 1900 to 415,000 by 1950. Through continuous modernization until 1953, it placed Denver in a league with other major US cities, fueling its transformation into a modern metropolis.
But this story is not just about infrastructure, it is about community. The surrounding Sun Valley and La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhoods housed generations of workers who built and operated the plant, yet they also bore the environmental burden of its operation. Jeanne Granville of the Sun Valley Community Coalition, said, “As one of Denver’s last remaining early power stations, Zuni represents not only the city’s industrial rise but also its complex legacy of environmental justice. Other power plants have been dismantled, but this site endures, offering a rare opportunity to acknowledge both the achievements and long-term impacts of industrial development on historically underserved communities. In an area feeling the impacts of significant development, Sun Valley is committed to the retention and reuse of Zuni as a community and cultural asset at the heart of our neighborhood.”
These sentiments are echoed by David Griggs of the adjacent La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood: “Although the Zuni Steam Plant is at the edge of our neighborhood, it is central to the story of La Alma Lincoln Park.The Steam Plant employed residents for many years and has become a recognizable local landmark. I am excited about the potential to reuse Zuni and, with a little creativity, it could become a one-of-a-kind space that is respectful of the past and accommodating for the future.”
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John Deffenbaugh, president and CEO of Historic Denver, said: “We recognize that reequipping a large industrial building for the modern world is a complex task, but this is not uncommon and has been done before, across the country and around the world. A diverse range of cities including Savannah, Austin, Beloit, Wisconsin, Columbus, Ohio, New York, and London know that historic industrial buildings can be repurposed to serve their communities whilst also generating significant city-wide economic benefit. Denver had the vision to do this before. The REI flagship store is a hugely successful example of adaptively reusing an industrial building— indeed, one that powered Denver’s early streetcar network. If all parties come together to figure out an approach for retaining and transferring Zuni to the private sector, this could be done again.”
Deffenbaugh continues: “Preservationists are often accused of being reactive, but in this case, community members, Historic Denver, and the City and County of Denver have been working for years to convince Xcel Energy of the importance of Zuni Steam Plant. It is disappointing that Xcel has adopted a simplistic approach to the disposal of the Steam Plant that goes against the wishes of the local communities. The timescale of 30 days to agree to a sale is completely unrealistic. We requested this be extended to 180 days and did not receive a response from Xcel. The steam plant was originally constructed to break the monopoly held by Denver Consolidated Gas and Electric Company. It is ironic that the modern monopoly of Xcel Energy now appears determined to demolish the building and erase its story.”
A letter from 10 members of Denver City Council dated, November 3, 2021, stating: “As members of Denver City Council, we write to express our commitment to the Sun Valley and La Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhoods, and to seeing the adaptive reuse of the Xcel Zuni Generating Station.” A subsequent letter from Laura Aldrete, former executive director of city agency Community Planning and Development, dated May 31, 2023 states: “Community support for a forward-looking repurposing of this complex is especially poignant given that, for over 100 years, the adjacent Sun Valley and La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhoods, both with among the lowest incomes in Denver, have suffered the negative environmental impacts imposed by coal-burning power generation.”
Most recently, a letter from all 13 members of Denver City Council was sent on March 20, 2025, encouraging Xcel to continue to progress a pathway towards adaptive reuse of the Steam Plant.
Zuni Steam Plant was placed on Colorado Preservation Inc.’s (CPI) list of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places in January 2024. Executive Director of CPI, Jennifer Orrigo-Charles said: “The Zuni Steam Plant is a cornerstone of Denver’s industrial history and a testament to the city’s resilience and innovation. For over a century, it powered the city’s growth and shaped the communities around it. Now, we have a rare opportunity to reimagine this space—not as a lost relic, but as a vibrant asset for the future. Preservation isn’t just about saving buildings; it’s about honoring the past while creating spaces that serve communities today and tomorrow. CPI stands with Historic Denver and the residents of Sun Valley and La Alma Lincoln Park in urging Xcel Energy and city leaders to embrace a visionary approach that retains Zuni as a cultural and economic driver for generations to come.”
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All parties remain committed to working with Xcel Energy to find a mutually agreeable solution that safeguards the future of this historic building and respects the wishes of the surrounding communities.
An unpredictable, four-game road trip ended on a high note Sunday in Houston.
Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 116-111 win over the Rockets at Toyota Center:
1. Most would’ve taken a 2-2 road trip at the outset had it been known Nikola Jokic would miss all four games, they just wouldn’t have picked the two wins correctly. The Nuggets beat two of the hottest teams in the league in Golden State and Houston, while losing to an undermanned Lakers and Trail Blazers squad. Jokic is expected to return sometime during Denver’s five-game homestand. He was wearing a sleeve on his right elbow during Sunday’s game after going through a pregame warmup. If nothing else, the wins at each end of the trip proved the Nuggets can stay afloat for as long as it takes for their star to be healthy enough to play. Denver heads home a game behind Houston in second place and a game ahead of the Lakers in fourth place. Denver returns to Houston for the regular-season finale, when playoff seeding looks likely to be on the line.
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5 things learned from Denver Nuggets’ head-scratching start to road trip
2. Maybe Jamal Murray just needed a game to get rid of the rust. On paper, it looked like a tough matchup for Murray. Houston has a supremely athletic defender in Amen Thompson and one of the tougher defenders in the game in Dillon Brooks. Denver’s starting point guard came out aggressive, scoring 12 points on 10 shots in the first quarter. He scored 10 points on 10 shots against Portland on Friday. His 17-point third quarter helped break the game open, and he capped a 39-point performance with a couple of free throws that helped seal the win. He made 15 of his 28 shots, recorded seven assists with just one turnover and grabbed four rebounds to lead Denver to an important victory.
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3. Starting DeAndre Jordan was the right call. Denver has been struggling on the glass, and Houston entered as the league’s best rebounding team. For all that Zeke Nnaji’s been doing well, he’s not a high-level rebounder. Alperen Sengun’s combination of size, skill and craftiness in the post would’ve been a tough cover for Zeke Nnaji. Jordan’s also a better screener and lob threat on pick-and-rolls. Jordan posted 11 points, 15 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes of playing time. The 36-year-old proved he can still provide plenty of value in a win in his hometown.
Your daily report on everything sports in Colorado – covering the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and columns from Woody Paige and Paul Klee.
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Friday Faceoff: Is playoff seeding or rest more important for the Nuggets?
NUGGETS 116, ROCKETS 111
What happened: The game was tied at 27 after the first quarter and 57 at halftime. A dominant third quarter gave Denver a 17-point advantage to start the fourth and the Nuggets, 45-27, picked up a game on Houston, which remains in second-place in the Western Conference at 46-26.
What went right: Denver wasn’t great at the line, finishing the game 18 for 26, but Christian Braun, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were perfect in the clutch. Meanwhile, Houston went 22 for 34 after some clutch misses from Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.
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What went wrong: The Nuggets played a pretty clean game with just nine turnovers, but Houston turned those giveaways into 15 points. A couple of those turnovers help Houston erode Denver’s 19-point lead and make it interesting late.
Highlight of the night: Jamal Murray did it all in a 90-second span late in the third quarter to give the Nuggets a 13-point lead. First, there were a couple of contested jumpers late in the shot clock. Then, Murray got inside the Rockets defense and lobbed a pass up to DeAndre Jordan, who threw down a reverse slam while drawing a foul. Jordan even hit the ensuing free throw.
Up next: The Nuggets host the Chicago Bulls on Monday at Ball Arena.
