Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker seemed puzzled earlier this month after his regular court docket was briefly interrupted.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, the day\u2019s criminal docket was momentarily delayed when Jack Roth, head prosecutor of the Colorado Attorney General\u2019s violent crimes staff, appeared via telephone. Roth announced he wasn\u2019t prepared to argue a defense motion to quash his request for defense files in the 2012 murder of 27-year-old Jonathan Hayes of Dolores.<\/p>\n
Public defender Justin Bogan, who originally represented 29-year-old convicted murderer Luther Hampson, filed the motion to suppress the prosecution\u2019s request. Hampson admitted to killing Hayes in 2013.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m curious why we are re-litigating the issue,\u201d said Walker.<\/p>\n
Currently serving a 25-year prison sentence, Hampson contends that Bogan provided ineffective legal counsel. Court records reveal that Hampson has also filed a request to withdraw his guilty plea and a petition for post-conviction relief.<\/p>\n
Walker set a hearing for oral arguments on April 15.<\/p>\n
Convicted and sentenced on May 30, 2013, Hampson was originally charged with first-degree murder as a habitual criminal.<\/p>\n
According to court records, Hayes sustained six blunt force impacts to the face and his throat was sliced with a razor blade. Medical records indicate the victim died a slow death. The murder weapon was never recovered.<\/p>\n
Hikers reportedly found the victim\u2019s body off CR T on Jan. 14, 2012, a week after Hayes was last seen alive.<\/p>\n
Hampson\u2019s new court-appointed attorney is Brad Junge of Grand Junction.<\/p>\n