A 29-year-old Dolores man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year now contends that his court-appointed attorney was ineffective.<\/p>\n
Luther Hampson is serving 25 years in prison after he admitted killing 27-year-old Jonathan Hayes, of Dolores. Hikers found Haye\u2019s body off County Road T on Jan. 14, 2012, a week after Hayes reportedly was last seen alive.<\/p>\n
According to court records, Hampson has filed three motions, including a request to withdraw his plea, a claim of ineffective counsel by public defender Justin Bogan and a petition for post-conviction relief, on Dec. 10, 2013, Jan. 10, 2014, and Jan. 17, 2014, respectively. Hampson was convicted and sentenced on May 30, 2013.<\/p>\n
Jack Roth, head prosecutor of the Colorado Attorney General\u2019s violent crimes staff, and Brad Junge of Grand Junction, Hampson\u2019s new court-appointed attorney, appeared before Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker via telephone to request a continuance on Thursday, Nov. 6. Walker granted the appeal until February 2015.<\/p>\n
Hampson was originally charged with first-degree murder as a habitual criminal. According to court records, Hayes sustained six blunt-force impacts to the face, and his throat was sliced with a razor. Medical records indicate Hayes died slowly. The murder weapon wasn\u2019t recovered.<\/p>\n