MAN SENTENCED IN TODDLER’S DEATH

Denver Daily News staff report

Thursday, January 21, 2010

MAN SENTENCED IN TODDLER’S DEATH: A man who pleaded guilty earlier to causing the death of a 22-month old girl who was in his care has been given the maximum sentence possible under the guilty plea agreement. Steven Burnley, 22, pleaded guilty last October to child abuse negligently causing death, a class 3 felony, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison yesterday. On Oct. 13, 2007, he was caring for 22-month-old Taylor Bach, the daughter of his girlfriend, when he caused a fatal head injury.

GUILTY PLEAS IN PIMPING RING CASE: Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced yesterday that eight defendants indicted last year on suspicion of promoting and engaging in prostitution and cocaine distribution at a series of brothels in Denver, Longmont and Glenwood Springs have pleaded guilty. According to the indictment, the prostitution and pimping ring, known as Mi Casa Su Casa, operated brothels from Dec. 30, 2006-April 16, 2009.

COLO. RESTAURANT SALES EXPECTED TO GROW: Colorado restaurant sales are expected to grow 2.9 percent, increasing from $8.4 billion in 2009 to $8.7 billion in 2010. Additionally, industry sales are projected to reach $580 billion this year, a 2.5 percent increase in current dollars over 2009 sales, according to the Colorado Restaurant Association. Three key factors Đ real disposable income, growth in population, and employment Đ have a major impact on restaurant spending. Disposable income in Colorado is expected to increase by 1.8 percent and population is expected to increase by 1.4 percent.

DEMS UNVEILS BILLS ON RECYCLING, EDUCATION REFORM AND REVENUE: House Democrats yesterday unveiled a series of bills aimed at recycling, education reform and revenue. Among the bills were House Bill 1052, which would help existing businesses make use of recycled materials generated in the state, and House Bill 1058, which would impose a civil penalty of 25 cents per cigarette for the purchase of unstamped cigarettes.

DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL REFORM: Community leaders and elected officials today will make the case for federal and state protections for financial consumers on the West steps of the Capitol at noon. Specifically, members at the event will call for a federal financial reform bill that would establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency to rein in Wall Street abuses. Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, will be among the speakers.

PERLMUTTER VOTES FOR HAITI DONATION TAX DEDUCTION LEGISLATION: U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., voted yesterday in favor of helping earthquake victims in Haiti by offering immediate benefit to Americans who make charitable contributions to aid the region. The bipartisan legislation will allow people to claim any donations to the relief effort as an itemized deduction on their 2009 tax returns.

COMMITTEE CONSIDERS CLARIFYING COLO. LAW DEALING WITH DECEASED MILITARY: The Senate State and Military Affairs Committee is considering legislation that will clarify the state statute dealing with the remains of deceased military personnel. Currently, Colorado does not accept the Record of Emergency, which all U.S. service members sign dictating where their remains are to be sent for burial should they lose their life while serving. Senate Bill 47 would bring Colorado’s law in line with federal requirements.

MARKEY JOINS BLUE DOG BUDGET TASK FORCE: Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., yesterday announced that she has joined the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition’s Budget Task Force, which will play a key role in setting the budget priorities for the 54-member coalition. The Blue Dog Coalition is a group of Democratic lawmakers “committed to representing the center of the House of Representatives and the mainstream values of the American public.”

RECALL TO INCLUDE DIPS, SPREADS: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment yesterday announced that Parkers Farm of Coon Rapids, Minn., has expanded its Jan. 8 recall to include certain dips and spreads distributed in Colorado. The products were recalled due to possible contamination. For more information, call 1-800-869-6685.

CELEBRATION IN COMMEMORATION OF ROE V. WADE ANNIVERSARY: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains tonight will celebrate 37 years of “reproductive freedom” by commemorating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade with statewide events. Leaders of Denver’s pro-choice community will gather at the Wynkoop Brewing Company tonight at 5:30 p.m. For more information about these events, visit pprm.org.

CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM: The public is invited to attend the Civil Rights Forum tonight to discuss civil rights concerns in the state. The forum will be held between 5:30-7 p.m. with light refreshments served at 5 p.m. at the Ross Barnum Public Library, 3570 West 1st Ave. The purpose of the forum is for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Division to listen and learn about the issues and concerns from around the state regarding civil rights. Facilitating the forum will be Colorado’s Director of Civil Rights Steven Chavez. Members of the state’s Civil Rights Commission and Division will be available to listen and answer questions. For more info, call DORA, Civil Rights Division, at 303-894-7821.

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