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Drunken driver sentenced to 12 years in prison for running red light, killing Colorado Ballet musician

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Drunken driver sentenced to 12 years in prison for running red light, killing Colorado Ballet musician


A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday for a drunken driving, multi-vehicle crash that killed a Colorado Ballet musician and hospitalized three others.

Juan Ortega Torres Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to one charge of vehicular homicide and two charges of vehicular assault in May, according to a news release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The plea dropped four additional counts of vehicular assault, driving under the influence and reckless driving from his case, according to court records.

On Tuesday, Ortega Torres was sentenced to 12 years in prison — half of the maximum 24-year sentence he could have received, according to the DA’s office.

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The crash happened after Ortega Torres ran a red light at West 64th Avenue and Lamar Street in Arvada, crashing into three cars while going 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, the DA’s office said in the release.

Kresten Wolff Thomsen, 44, died in the crash and two children and the driver of another vehicle were injured, Arvada police said.

Thomsen was picking his two children up from school and was a few miles from home when the crash occurred. He was a composer, writer and musician who worked with the Colorado Ballet.

“All of the words in all of the languages on earth will never be able to describe what a wonderful man this was,” Thomsen’s wife said to the court Tuesday. “Kresten and the loss of him consumes my every thought. I live in a sorrow that is indescribable, unpredictable, and inconsolable. I long for him every minute of every day.”

Ortega Torres said during the sentencing hearing that he wished he could trade places with Thomsen.

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“I still can’t believe the harm I’ve done to this family,” Ortega Torres said. “I hope people believe me that I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

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Denver rally shows divided feelings over U.S.-Israel action against Iran

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Denver rally shows divided feelings over U.S.-Israel action against Iran


DENVER — More than 24 hours after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, Coloradans are continuing to express their feelings about what the attack means not only for the world, but here in our state.

For the second straight day, Coloradans expressed their opinions on the steps of the state Capitol about the attack by the US and Israel on Iran.

But instead of anger, as was the case on Saturday, the tone on Sunday was more cheerful.

“Today it’s a celebration about like getting our freedom back, and we would love to have people to be happy with us,” said Forzun Yalme, who helped organize the event with Free Iran Colorado.

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For some Iranian-Americans, the news of the attack brings a new sense of hope that freedom is near.

“For me to be Iranian-American, in 47 years here, I learned about democracy and human rights and what I like,” detailed Amir Tosh, another member of Free Iran Colorado. “I want to transfer what your values are for democracy, human rights, freedom to my country, my motherland.”

Denver rally shows divided feelings over U.S.-Israel action against Iran

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“My uncle and grandma, grandparents, they were all so happy about what happened, because we can, like, now feel the freedom,” explained Yalme.

But some Iranian-Americans are more cautious.

Colorado’s only Iranian-American state representative, Yara Zokaie, doubts the operation will have a significant impact to Iran’s leadership.

“I’m sympathetic to people who want regime change by any means necessary, but I think we also need to stop and realize what this actually means,” said Zokaie. “Regime change is not something that can happen in one airstrike.”

Zokaie admits she herself was elated to hear Iran’s supreme leader and other top officials were killed in the attack.

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But she hopes Coloradans remember the innocent people who have already been killed and those who are more likely to come.

“I ask that we remember the humanity of people in the Middle East as this news unfolds. I ask that we call for a peaceful resolution that we empower Iranian people who will bring change from within, and that we call for no war with Iran,” said Zokaie.

Several people at today’s event at the Capitol approached our Denver7 team. They shared their gratitude for President Donald Trump, the US military, and the Israelis for their action in helping bring freedom to Iran.

They hope others will see that as well. They plan on being here for the next hour and a half or so.





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Police searching for information after fatal assault in Denver

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Police searching for information after fatal assault in Denver


Denver police are looking for information that could help them identify the suspect in a fatal assault overnight.

Officers were called to the scene in the 9700 block of E. Hampden Avenue around 2:08 a.m. They said an injured man at the scene was taken to a hospital for treatment, but he has been pronounced deceased.

DPD says they’re investigating the case as a homicide. They did not provide the identity of the man who was killed or further details on the case.

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Police encouraged anyone with information about the attack or the possible suspect(s) involved to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.



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