Restaurant rage leads to prison term

A former Taco Bell employee of the week was ordered to two years in prison after knocking a co-worker unconscious.

Joshua Beverly, 25, of Cortez received the prison sentence last week after pleading guilty to felony second-degree assault in connection to an incident in the Taco Bell parking lot in April 2014. Beverly was also ordered to pay $1,840 in medical bills. He was credited with 267 days served.

At last week’s hearing, Beverly said he regretted the incident.

“We’re all very lucky the victim didn’t die,” said Chief District Court Judge Doug Walker on Thursday, April 9.

Public defender Kenneth Pace said his client punched the 25-year-old victim, a co-worker and roommate, in self-defense. The victim suffered a fractured skull and was airlifted to a Grand Junction hospital.

The incident reportedly occurred over a rent dispute, according to court records.

Probation revoked for Mancos man

A Mancos man’s deferred judgment was revoked last week after he failed to report to probation officials and enroll in drug treatment. He also tested positive for drug use.

Tyler Dillashaw, 24, was sentenced to a 12-month in-patient drug treatment program after admitting that he violated his probation. He was serving 24 months on a deferred judgment in connection to felony trespassing charges.

Court records reveal that Dillashaw and others broke into a Mancos residence in 2010 to party. Fireworks were shot inside the home, and knives, binoculars and antique perfume bottles were stolen.

Mistaken identity and now homeless

After spending six months in jail, a Mississippi woman is now homeless in Colorado.

Montezuma County authorities arrested and charged Shemeka Bratton, 33, of Jackson, Miss., with second-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft in connection to a stolen rental car. She pleaded not guilty last week, and a two-day trial was set to start Aug. 3.

Bratton, who is African-American, was apparently mistaken for a Native, her public defender claims. The court granted Bratton permission to return to Mississippi while awaiting trial.

DA requests special prosecutor

An attorney from Durango will now prosecute a Dolores man charged with domestic violence.

Last week, the court granted a request from District Attorney Will Furse for a special prosecutor to handle second-degree assault and obstruction charges filed against Carl Holaday, 35, of Dolores. Furse said the suspect’s mother was a board member on the local victim’s compensation board.

Court records reveal that Holaday allegedly threw a woman to the ground, breaking her leg. The hearing was rescheduled for April 15.

Ex-con pleads not guilty in violence

Out of custody on a $5,000 bond, an ex-con pleaded not guilty in a domestic violence case last week.

Sheldon Shorty, 24, is charged with first-degree burglary and second- and third-degree assault charges after he allegedly beat the mother of his son in October. A three-day trial was set for Aug. 3.

Court records reveal the alleged 20-year-old victim was punched in the face, head-butted and kicked in the ribs inside her South Madison Street home on Oct. 5.

The alleged victim told police that Shorty came to her home uninvited within weeks of being released from prison. The defendant’s criminal history was not included in the case file.

Cortez man requests drug treatment

A Cortez man has requested drug treatment after police apparently harassed him without cause.

“I will do whatever it takes to kick this addiction,” William Masoner, 45, told court officials last week.

After pleading guilty to drug charges, Masoner was sentenced to two years probation, in-patient treatment and 120 hours of community service.

Masoner’s public defender argued the charges should have never been filed because police approached Masoner at a public park because they didn’t recognize him.

During their search, police said they seized 1.4 grams of meth and four credit cards.

Durango man pleads guilty after car chase

A Durango man has pleaded guilty after leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit after a shoplifting attempt.

Eric Merriam-Perra, 25, was sentenced to two years of in-patient treatment last week after pleading guilty to vehicular eluding.

Court records reveal the suspect led authorities on a high-speed chase after attempting to steal $112 worth of merchandise from the local Walmart on New Year’s Eve. The items were recovered inside a backpack.

Charges of DUI and theft were dismissed as part of a plea deal.