A Colorado public defense lawyer assigned to the murder case against Mark Redwine was arrested Sunday on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and domestic violence.
John Moran, 42, of Durango, appeared Monday in La Plata County Combined Courts wearing an orange jail-issued jumpsuit.
Sr. Judge Raymond Satter issued Moran a personal recognizance bond, meaning he would be released Monday afternoon or Monday evening without paying any money. A protection order has been ordered preventing Moran from contacting the alleged victim.
According to an arrest affidavit, the incident occurred about 8:30 p.m. Sunday when Moran began arguing with his former girlfriend, who was sitting in a chair on the back porch of a house in the east 500 block of Fifth Street.
Moran became angry and pushed the woman’s chair, knocking it off the porch, according to the arrest affidavit. The woman fell to the ground, causing a knot and a bruise to her arm. The woman also said she might have a concussion from the impact to her head.
While on the ground, the woman saw people walking near the street and screamed for help, according to the affidavit. In response, Moran sprayed the woman with a water hose to “make her stop screaming,” the affidavit says. The woman then gathered her things and left the house.
In explaining the story to police, the woman said Moran “has a history of abusing her, and that she was afraid of him, especially when he was drunk.” They had been in a relationship for about 1½ years, “and she recently ended it because of the continued abuse,” according to the affidavit.
Police went to the house about 9:05 p.m. where they found Moran intoxicated, according to the report. He was arrested and booked into the La Plata County Jail.
As a public defense lawyer, Moran represents dozens of criminal defendants who cannot afford their own attorney, including Redwine, who is charged with second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in connection with the 2012 death of his 13-year-old son, Dylan.
Justin Bogan, who heads the Durango public defender’s office, is also assigned to Redwine’s defense team. Efforts to reach Bogan for comment were unsuccessful Monday.
Redwine’s trial is scheduled to start Sept. 18 in La Plata County.
Moran, who has no criminal history, was represented Monday by Durango defense lawyer Ingrid Alt, who declined to comment outside the courthouse. The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office declined to comment.
The 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and La Plata County Judge Dondi Osborne have recused themselves from the case for conflicts of interest. The 7th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is serving as a special prosecutor.
shane@durangoherald.com
