MAN CHARGED IN WOMAN’S DEATH

Denver Daily News staff report

Monday, November 16, 2009

MAN CHARGED IN WOMAN’S DEATH: Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has formally charged a man in connection with the death of a 28-year-old woman a on Nov. 6. Anthony Romero, 28, is charged with first-degree murder. The charge alleges that Romero got angry with his girlfriend, Jessica Porter, and killed her in the early morning hours of Nov. 6 in the home they shared in the 1800 block of S. Clermont Street. Romero, who was in a bedroom of the home when officers arrived, was taken to the hospital to be treated for knife wounds. Romero remains in custody in the Denver County Jail; he is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court, room 12T, on Tuesday, at 9 a.m. to be formally advised of the charges.

FORMER PARAMEDIC SENTENCED TO PRISON: A former paramedic convicted of assaulting a 39-year-old man who was being transported to the hospital has been sentenced to prison on Friday. Alan Miller, 31, was found guilty last month by a Denver jury of second-degree assault causing serious bodily injury and false reporting. Miller, who faced a sentencing range from five to 16 years in prison, was sentenced to 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

FIRST LADY JEANNIE RITTER TO JOIN U.S. FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA: Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter will join U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama when Mrs. Obama brings her White House leadership and mentoring initiative to Denver today. Local and national women leaders and metro-area students will meet at the Governor’s Residence for a midday discussion. Afterwards, each of the women leaders will visit local schools to share their stories, discuss their careers and answer student questions. Mrs. Ritter will visit Regis Jesuit High School and will be joined by actress Alfre Woodard.

OPERATOR OF FORT MORGAN MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY SENTENCED FOR CLEAN WATER ACT VIOLATIONS: Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation was sentenced on Friday for violating clean water standards in discharges from its associated wastewater treatment operation, United States Attorney David Gaouette and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Special Agent in Charge Lori Hanson announced. Cargill was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Boyd N. Boland to a total fine of $200,000, as well as a $250 special assessment to a victims of crime fund. Separate from the court’s sentence, Cargill also entered into an administrative agreement with the EPA under which it has undertaken or will undertake a range of corrections, including staff training, mechanical upgrades to its wastewater treatment operation, and reassignment of personnel responsible for the violations.

FORMER EXECUTIVE AT COLORADO HOME BUILDING COMPANY ADMITS ROLE IN $16 MILLION ‘BUILDER BAILOUT’ SCHEME: The former director of sales for a Colorado real estate company that built luxury homes throughout the state agreed in court papers filed on Friday to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting that he and other company officials participated in a $16 million “builder bailout” scheme in which buyers of $1 million-plus homes were paid kickbacks if they purchased homes from the company. Benjamin Serrano, 47, who until recently lived in Parker, was charged in a criminal information filed Friday morning. In a related plea agreement also filed Friday morning in United States District Court, Serrano agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy. In the court documents, Serrano admits his role in a scheme to bring needed revenue to his company and admits working with Kristin A. Clark, a licensed real estate agent in Los Angeles, and Bradley Bishop, a former loan officer at Washington Mutual Bank and, later, Bank of America. Both Clarke and Bishop previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges. In his plea agreement, Serrano admits to participating in a conspiracy with Clark and Bishop, as well as others at the company, to defraud Bank of America, Wells FargoBank, Washington Mutual Bank and other federally insured financial institutions.

NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEADERS TO VISIT DENVER VENTURE SCHOOL TODAY: Denver Venture School today will receive a visit from national and local leaders sent on behalf of the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama. Denver Venture School, a charter school with an entrepreneurial focus is one of only 10-12 Denver schools chosen for these visits. Tentatively scheduled to visit Denver Venture School are U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Founder and Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, and Denver Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Brough.

BELLCO CREDIT UNION AGREES TO PAY $57,250 TO SETTLE EEOC AGE DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT: Bellco Credit Union has agreed to pay $57,250 and furnish other relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced on Friday. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, EEOC v. Bellco Credit Union, 06-cv-01883 CMA-MEH, a then 61-year-old teller in Bellco’s Harlan Branch in Westminster, was fired in October 2003 because of her age. In addition to the monetary settlement, Bellco, based in Greenwood Village, has agreed to post its anti-discrimination policy, provide training about anti-discrimination laws to its employees and managers and make periodic reports to the EEOC.

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE HOSTS CARNIVORES 2009: CARNIVORE CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD: How are climate change, habitat degradation and human activities impacting the future of wolves and other carnivores? You can find out at “Carnivores 2009: Carnivore Conservation in a Changing World” today through Wednesday in Denver at the Grand Hyatt. The conference is the seventh Carnivore Conference hosted by Defenders of Wildlife, and this year’s theme addresses the country’s foremost conservation challenge: climate change.

MICROSOFT HOHM AVAILABLE TO XCEL CUSTOMERS: Energy customers may now take advantage of Microsoft Hohm, an online application that enables them to better understand their energy usage, get energy-saving recommendations and lower their energy bills. Microsoft Hohm provides consumers with personalized energy-saving recommendations, which can help them lower their energy bill and reduce their impact on the environment. The beta application is available at no cost to customers with an Internet connection and can be accessed directly by visiting www.microsoft-hohm.com. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.

RITTER ORDERS LOWERING OF FLAGS TODAY: Gov. Bill Ritter on Friday ordered that both the United States flag and the Colorado state flag be lowered on all public buildings throughout Colorado today in honor of United States Army Spc. Jonathon M. Sylvestre, 21, of Colorado Springs. Sylvestre was killed on Nov. 2 in Kut, Iraq, in defense of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had joined the Army in 2008, and this was his first deployment. His funeral will take place today.

STATE REGULATION OF SURGERY TECHNICIANS REQUESTED: The Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform (OPRRR) is currently conducting a sunrise review to determine if the General Assembly should require regulation of surgery technicians. Sunrise reviews examine whether new regulation is necessary to protect the public. Family Voices of Colorado filed an application requesting licensure or certification of surgery technicians, which would offer protection to the public from unqualified practitioners. The Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform will submit its findings to the General Assembly by Feb. 25. The review will include a recommendation on whether to regulate this profession. Any interested party may provide input on this review by contacting OPRRR directly or on-line at www.dora.state.co.us/pls/real/OPR_Review_Comments.Main.

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