Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Registered Sex Offender Arrested On Sex Offense Charges

Oscar "Danny" Valdez, 26, of Grand Junction

Registered Sex Offender Arrested, New Sex Offense Charges

Mesa County, Colo. --  Oscar "Danny" Daniel Valdez, 26, of Grand Junction, was arrested today on a warrant charging five counts of a violation of a protection order and two counts of sexual assault on a child-pattern of abuse. Danny Valdez was previously arrested on sex assault charges in 2009, 2010 and this morning. [Previous case numbers: 10CR1007, 11CR1368 and 09JD18]

Danny was currently in compliance with his registration requirements as a convicted sex offender, in Mesa County. He was however, suspected of violating a court order to not be around anyone under the age of 18 (that order was issued July 22, 2010 and expired May 21, 2017). He is currently being held without bond, pending first arraignment. For updated information about any inmate currently in our Mesa County Detention Facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry webpage.

For information about any registered sex offender registered with our agency or another Mesa County law enforcement agency, visit the Colorado Registered Sex Offender database. Anyone can registered through that website to be notified if a new register moves into a set radius you choose, around any address you enter into the system.

To view information about sexually violent predator's registered with our agency, visit our SVP website with individual bulletins about each offender. And, for sex assault victim assistance information, visit the Western Slope Center for Children's website.


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Deputy Given Statewide Award

Community Outreach Deputy Chad Williams Recognized With Award

Mesa County, Colo. -- On Saturday at noon, Deputy Chad Williams, was in attendance of a luncheon event in a Denver hotel conference room. Just moments later, he was awarded the Colorado Society - Sons of American Revoluntion Law Enforcement Officer Commendation medal. Deputy Williams is the first in Colorado history of the Sons of the American Revoluntion, to be the award recipient from the Westernslope. Historically, the law enforcement medal has always gone to a Colorado front range law enforcement officer.


Deputy Williams was nominated by a member of the Western Colorado chapter of the Sons of the American Revoluntion, for his extensive community outreach, (free) classes to citizens and parents on a variety of current drugs/drug education, the creation of nueral activity - a teen program, and much more.


We couldn't be more proud of Deputy Williams and his work in Mesa County! 

Monday, February 16, 2015

Sexually Violent Predator Moves Back Into Clifton Neighborhood

Mark Pagel, 38, of Clifton

SVP Re-Registers With MCSO, In Compliance With State Registration Requirements

Mesa County, Colo. -- On Friday afternoon, Mark Pagel, 38, of Clifton, has re-registered at the same previous address he resided at in 2014. That address is, 482 32 1/8 Road, Apt 2. He is in compliance with his registration requirement with our agency and state registration requirements.

People can find more information about all SVPs registered with our agency, at: http://sheriff.mesacounty.us/SVP.aspx

People can search all registered sex offenders in the County, and across the state, at: http://sheriff.mesacounty.us/offender/

THE MESA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS RELEASING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PURSUANT TO COLORADO REVISED STATUTES 16-13-901 THROUGH 16-13-905, WHICH AUTHORIZES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF A SEX OFFENDER’S RELEASE WHEN THE OFFENDER HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR AND IS SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS NOTIFICATION IS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTION. VIGILANTISM, OR USE OF THIS INFORMATION TO HARASS, THREATEN, OR INTIMIDATE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED: THE OFFENDER, THE OFFENDER'S SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND THE COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION TEAM.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEEDING INFORMATION SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE MESA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE (Click here for bulletin info and agency contact).

THE INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT OF THIS NOTIFICATION HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF SEX OFFENSES THAT REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT REGISTRATION. FURTHER, THEY HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO PRESENT A HIGH POTENTIAL TO RE-OFFEND AND ARE THEREFORE SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION REGARDING THEIR RESIDENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DIRECT WHERE A SEX OFFENDER MAY LIVE. UNLESS COURT RESTRICTIONS EXIST, THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY FREE TO LIVE WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE. SEX OFFENDERS HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT OF THEIR RESIDENCE UNTIL REGISTRATION LAWS WERE IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THE JACOB WETTERLING ACT IN 1994.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

FOUND: Mesa County Man, Missing & Endangered

FOUND SAFE: MISSING & ENDANGERED
Charles "Charlie" W. Brittain, 67-years-old

FOUND: Man, Missing & Endangered

Update at 4:30 p.m. 

Mesa County, Colo. -- Charlie Brittain has returned to his home, safe. This case has been closed. While he wasn't located because of a citizen tip, that is often the most successful way to locate #SilverAlerts. We THANK every citizen who assisted in any way with this incident.

Mesa County, Colo. -- Charlie Brittain, 67, is a white male, 6’03” tall, with a heavy build, and balding. He has a light colored small beard. Charlie was last seen around 10 a.m., today, by his spouse who also reported him missing to deputies early this afternoon.

Deputies and local law enforcement officers checked various location around the county looking for Charlie, to include local hospitals and places he is known to frequent. He is believed to be driving a dark green Toyota SR5, truck, with Colorado license plate 428-IBE. Charlie is in the early stages of dementia and could be experiencing confusion and/or other similar behaviors.

Anyone who sees Charlie should contact 911.


Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Molina Residents Requested To Lock Doors

Suspect Ran From Deputies, Then Attempted To Steal Car

June 2014 Booking Photo. Currently he
does NOT have facial hair.
Update as of 9:45 p.m.-- The same phones that previously received a message from dispatch tonight will soon receive a second message advising of who the suspect is and to remain vigilant.

The suspect is believed to be Matthew "Ryan" Stauter, 30, a white male with distinctive tattoos on his neck area. He does NOT have facial hair at this time, although the 2014 booking photo from the Mesa County Detention Facility does have facial hair. Stauter was last seen in the greater Molina area wearing a black baseball hat, a black jacket and jeans. He is wanted on several warrants and is possibly armed.

Residents in the greater Molina area should remain vigilant, aware and to report any suspicious incidents to 911, immediately. Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

Previously Release at 8:40 p.m.

Mesa County, Colo. -- Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 330 between Molina and Highway 65, around 6:15 p.m., tonight. During that traffic stop, an adult male suspect fled from the scene attempting to steal a vehicle just moments later. Again, the suspect took off on foot, eastbound.

Previously released #WarrantWednesday poster
The Grand Junction Regional Communication Center (dispatch) sent out a phone message to land lines and registered cell phones in a three mile radius of the Molina Transfer Station. This call went to 155 phones. The message indicated to lock all doors and secure out buildings (if possible), do not answer your door to anyone unknown and to call 911 to report anything suspicious. The message also indicated that law enforcement is in the area looking for an armed and dangerous suspect.

More than a  dozen law enforcement agents from the area have saturated the Highway 330 corridor (to include KE Road area), to include responding to any homes where suspicious noises have been reported. Deputies alongside multiple law enforcement partners are continuing to search barns, garages, basements and many outbuildings in the Molina area.

Updates will be posted as they become available. Residents should remain vigilant and continue to report suspicious activity or suspicious noises overnight, by calling 911.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Middle Schooler Charged With Felony Drug Distribution

13-Year-Old Investigated Multiple Times

Mesa County, Colo. -- A 13-year-old Mount Garfield Middle School student who has a pending court date stemming from felony drug charges, was arrested on a warrant for the same activity January 30, 2015. The teen was booked into the Grand Mesa Youth Detention Facility without bond, charged with additional counts of special offender distribution of drugs at school, tampering with evidence, unlawful possession of controlled substance, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful use of controlled substance.

Three drug investigations were separately conducted by school resource deputies with our agency, during January, that all lead back to the same teen. She is suspected of distributing prescription pills, to include, morphine and oxycodone/Percocet pills. The deputy wrote in his warrant for the teen, "a single dose (of oxy), to a non-tolerant user...can be considered a fatal dose."

The school officials worked in tangent with deputies on these investigations, with a focus on student safety.

For a safe disposal site for unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs, use this FREE option located in our lobby. 

FREE disposal option
Located in the lobby at: 215 Rice St., GJ
Here is a blurb from a previous post about a safe and free alternative to disposing of prescription drugs: Every business day our agency main lobby is open to the public (current hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excluded), citizens can access this drug take back box. The box was given to our agency from CDHPE at no cost. Our partnership with them requires us making the box available to the public. We are very excited about this partnership!
Our lobby has this box available for proper and safe disposal of your over-the-counter and prescription medications. This is a no questions asked service, however we can not accept a few items, listed here:
  • Needles/Sharps
  • Aerosol
  • Mercury Containing Item(s)
  • Chemotherapy or Radio Active Substances
  • Oxygen
  • Pressurized Canisters
Mesa County Hazardous Waste Collection Facility will take many of these items, such as: needles/sharps, pressurized/aerosol and mercury containing items, free of charge from Mesa County residents, Thursdays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, they are NOT able to accept controlled substances (narcotics), chemotherapy or radio-active substances or oxygen tanks. Mesa County Hazardous Waste Facility can be reached directly at (970) 257-9336 or (970) 256-9543 for more information, or visit their website: www.mesacounty.us/swm

Man Arrested Today On 100 Felony Counts

Clifton Man Arrested For Child Pornography

Sysco Gaglione, 24, of Clifton, Colo.
Mesa County Detention Facility
Booking Photo, taken Feb. 4, 2015
Mesa County, Colo. -- Investigators with the Sheriff's Office obtained a signed warrant today for the arrest of Sysco Gaglione, 24, of Clifton. The arrest warrant outlines more than 5,400 possible images of child pornography located on a computer that had been in his possession. After "100 graphic pornographic images depicting infants in diapers to 12 year olds, all being sexually assaulted..." were documented by our agency's forensic investigator, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Within 15 minutes of patrol deputies being notified of the signed warrant, Sysco was arrested without incident, at his residence on Bunting Avenue.

This investigation originated from a multi-law enforcement investigation conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC), who connected the IP address where Sysco resides with an IP address associated with downloading child pornography, late in 2014.

Sysco is currently going through the booking process at the Mesa County Detention Facility, being booked on 100 class 4 felony charges of sexual exploitation of a child. His bond has been set at $25,000 cash only. A booking photo will be posted here when it is available (not tonight), so please check back.

For information about any inmate currently in our Detention Facility, visit our Inmate Inquiry System webpage. Also, for immediate information straight from within our agency, follow us on Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #GVCopBeat and #MesaCounty.

Monday, February 2, 2015

GJ Chamber of Commerce Named MCSO Employee, Young Professional of the Year

MCSO PIO Awarded GJ Chamber Of Commerce Recognition

Sheriff Matt Lewis presenting
Heather Benjamin with YPN Award.
Mesa County, Colo. -- During the Friday night Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce banquet, a video was shown of our own Public Information Officer/Communication Manager being presented with the 2014 Young Professional of the Year award. Heather Benjamin was out of town on January 30, and wasn't able to be at the banquet in person.

So, the sub-committee of the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce got creative and surprised Heather at the Sheriff's Office about a week prior, with the award. Joe Burtard, Lori Mizushima, Alyssa Hampson and Bridgett Gutierrez, all Young Professionals Network of Mesa County Board Members, joined in the surprise awarding along with Mesa County Sheriff Matt Lewis and many of Heather's co-workers.

Heather Benjamin surrounded by YPN members
after being award the 2014 YPN Member of the Year
.
“It is obvious to us that Heather is not only a woman passionate about her career, her community and her family, but she is also an inspiration to young professional women and a future leader in the Grand Valley,” Joseph Burtard, YPN Board Member, said.  

Sheriff Matt Lewis, added, "It is no surprise to us that Heather won this award and she is very deserving of it."

YPN peer nomination are accepted throughout the year and chosen in December, by committee. The criteria includes making a positive impact on our community, being an active Young Professionals member and representing young professionals in a positive manner. 

Joseph Butard, read the following about why Heather was chosen as the 2014 winner of this award..."YPN chose to recognize Heather for a multitude of reasons. Heather is the type of young professional who not only excels in her work, but takes additional time to participate in local service organizations such as JIC/JIS, professional organizations, such as Mesa County Communications Officer Association and YPN as well as volunteer. Heather has been the voice of our community during national media coverage, offered unconditional support to families in crisis, been pulled away from her home and family at 3 a.m. to provide guidance and direction in critical situations and developed communications protocols for media sources and the general public."  

The 2013 YPN of the Year was Evan Walton, of FCI Constructors, Inc. and the 2012 YPN of the Year was Joseph Burtard, of Ute Water Conservancy District. For more information about the Young Professionals Network of Mesa County, visit their website.

'Thank you YPN, the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce and my peers for choosing me among the many wonderful, hardworking young professionals in Mesa County," Heather said. "This truly is an honor to be recognized and listed among such great local leaders, as well as bestowed this award from the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce."