Denver, CO

Colorado pastor ordered to repay family more than $300,000 for construction project;

Published

3 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

Colorado pastor ordered to repay family more than 0,000 for construction project;

A Denver judge this week ordered an area pastor, Tilo Lopez, to pay a family $311,000 in restitution after Lopez was criminally prosecuted in connection with a construction project he said he would do for the family.

In the restitution ruling, the judge noted that Lopez charged the family 542% more than he paid for home demolition that was part of the construction project.

“This man lied to us,” said Miguel Lara, whose elderly parents, Ventura and Elsie Lara, put their trust in Lopez, who calls himself “A missionary.” “I love Jesus,” Lopez previously said. Beyond his ministry, Lopez also ran a construction company, Remodeling Specialists LLC.

Tilo Lopez outside a Denver courtroom

CBS

The Lara family knew Lopez for decades as a minister, and said they had faith in him due to his religious background.

“We just thought him being a man of God, we trusted him completely,” said Elsie Lara, 77.

In 2020, the Laras signed contracts with Lopez allowing him to tear down the home next door to theirs, which they owned, and then build a duplex so three generations of the Lara family could live side by side. Elsie Lara said she and her husband, who is 81, took out a $520,000 loan to pay Lopez and finance the construction project. They say it was their life savings.

But after demolishing their home, they say the work stopped and Lopez “disappeared,” despite the fact they paid Lopez at least $250,000 up front.

Denver prosecutors charged Lopez criminally, and last September he pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return — a felony — and attempting to commit theft — a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 12 years probation.

At a restitution hearing last week, a demolition contractor said Lopez hired him for $14,000 to demolish the home nextdoor to the Laras, but then Lopez charged the Lara family $90,000 for the demolition, a 542% markup.

Elsie Lara and her husband

CBS
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“I thought that was crazy,” said demolition contractor Dennis Olivas.

Olivas testified Lopez told him not to reveal to the family how much Lopez had paid him for the demo job.

Another witness at the restitution hearing, an investigator with the Denver District Attorney’s office, said Lopez paid a subcontractor $30,000 for asbestos abatement on the demolition, but then charged the Laras $150,000 for the work.

On Tuesday, Denver District Court Judge Jay Grant ordered Lopez to repay the Laras $311,191.64 to cover their losses and accrued interest.

Lopez’s lawyer, Grant Grosgebauer, said Lopez would likely appeal the restitution order. The attorney did not offer any further comment or statements about the restitution order.

Tilo Lopez did not testify during the restitution hearing and has not publicly discussed the case or what happened.

Both Elsie and Ventura Lara had hoped to retire, but say the losses to Lopez have forced them both to continue working.

“The situation he put us in now,” said Ventura Lara, “is we are living paycheck to paycheck because we don’t have any money to fall back on.”

His son, Miguel Lara, told CBS Colorado: “It was my dad’s dream to save all that money and have something for his kids and be able to retire, and now it’s the opposite.”

The family says if they collect the $311,000 in restitution, it will help them pay down their construction loan, but they say they are mostly pleased that Tilo Lopez is being held accountable for his actions.

The family still pays $4,900 a month to a lender for loan payments for the duplex that was never built. They say they hope their experience serves as a warning to others to thoroughly check out contractors they plan to use, do diligent research and if something does go wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up and seek help.

“The only fault we had,” said the Lara’s daughter, Juanita Aliste-Munoz, “is we believed in a minister that talked highly about God.”

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Denver, CO

Denver area events for March 5

Published

50 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability. Thursday Camilla Vaitaitis Quartet — 6:30 p.m., Dazzle at Baur’s, 1080 14th St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: dazzledenver.com/#/events. Miguel — 7 p.m., Fillmore Auditorium, […]

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Denver, CO

Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back

Published

13 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Report: Broncos expected to ‘make a splash’ at running back

The Denver Broncos are in the market for a running back.

Just two days after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Denver wants to have the running back position addressed before the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Broncos are “poised to make a splash” at running back during NFL free agency.

“Denver is the reason why the Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall rather than the transition tag, according to sources, making sure Denver wouldn’t get the opportunity to put together an offer the Jets would refuse to match,” Jones wrote for CBS Sports.

Jones said the Broncos would be an obvious potential landing spot for Kenneth Walker, and he noted that Travis Etienne could be a cheaper alternative. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider also reported this week that Denver is expected to “closely examine” the RB market, and he name-dropped Walker, Etienne and Rico Dowdle.

The Broncos also have an in-house free agent at RB in J.K. Dobbins, who has expressed his desire to remain in Denver. The Broncos can begin negotiating with pending free agents from other clubs on March 9, but no deals can become official until the new league year begins on March 11. In-house free agents can be re-signed at any time.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

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Denver, CO

Grand Junction, Palisade reach Great Eight in Denver

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Grand Junction, Palisade reach Great Eight in Denver

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Class 5A Sweet 16 has arrived, and both Grand Junction and Palisade are still standing with trips to the Great Eight in Denver on the line.

At The Jungle, the No. 2 seed Grand Junction Tigers set the tone early against No. 18 Golden. Defense carried the Tigers from the opening tip as they held the Demons to nine first quarter points while scoring 16 of their own.

Grand Junction added eight points in the second quarter while Golden managed six, sending the Tigers into halftime with a nine point lead.

Golden responded in the third quarter, outscoring Grand Junction 16 to 11 to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The Tigers answered in the final period, attacking the rim and converting key shots to win the quarter 19 to 10. Grand Junction secured a 54 to 41 victory to protect its home court and advance to the Great Eight in Denver.

Top seeded Palisade also defended its home floor with a trip to Denver at stake. The Bulldogs opened with nine straight points to energize a packed gym, but Frederick settled in and closed the first quarter on a run to tie the game at nine.

Frederick continued to respond in the second quarter and took an eight point lead into halftime.

Palisade shifted momentum after the break. The Bulldogs tightened defensively, holding Frederick to 21 points in the second half while scoring 39 of their own. Palisade completed the comeback to advance to the Great Eight.

Colorado Mesa University Women Deliver Historic RMAC Tournament Win

In collegiate action, the top seeded Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team defeated Colorado School of Mines 96 to 51 in the RMAC Tournament, marking the largest margin of victory in the tournament this century.

Olivia Reed-Thyne led the Mavericks with 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting, her third 30 point performance this season. Mason Rowland added 22 points and Hallie Clark contributed 10 as Colorado Mesa matched a program record with its 31st win. The Mavericks will host the semifinals Friday with a berth in the championship game at stake.

Colorado Mesa University Men Survive Overtime Thriller

The Colorado Mesa University men’s basketball team faced New Mexico Highlands University for the third time this season. The Mavericks scored 36 first half points and led by four at the break.

New Mexico Highlands shot 50 percent in the second half, received 21 bench points and outscored Colorado Mesa 43 to 39 to force a late push. With the season in the balance, Ty Allred hit a game tying 3 pointer to make it 75 and send the game to overtime. Allred scored seven points in the extra period as Colorado Mesa earned a 91 to 90 victory to advance to the next round.

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