By Shannon Lukens.
Three people have been arrested on initial charges of Soliciting for Child Prostitution, a Class 3 Felony. Routt County Sheriff Doug Sherar confirms that none are from Steamboat Springs or Routt County.
33-year-old Aldo Miranda-Cota is in the Routt County Jail on $75,000 bond, with a court date scheduled for Wednesday. 32-year-old Donterrius Hill is being held on $5,000 cash or surety bond. 31-year-old Christopher Meehan is being held on $2,000 bond. Both are scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday.
Press releases from local law enforcement say this was this was a combined effort with local and state agencies. The undercover operation identified and arrested the three allegedly seeking to pay to have sex with children under the age of 18.
The Routt County Sheriff’s Office asks to please contact them if you have any information on these arrests, at 970-879-1090.
All Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“This multi-agency operation was a collaboration to target sexual predators in our region,” said Chief Mark Beckett. “We will not tolerate human trafficking in our community, and we will continue working with our partners to ensure these people cannot operate in Steamboat Springs and the Routt County area.”
Here are both press releases.
First, from the Routt County Sheriff’s Office –
JOINT OPERATION FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING/SOLICITATION FOR CHILD PROSTITUTION
On October 5 and 6th members from the Routt County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) Steamboat Springs Police Department (SSPD), All Crimes Enforcement Team (ACET), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office conducted a joint Law Enforcement operation which identified and arrested persons seeking to pay to have sex with children under the age of 18. This undercover investigation and subsequent arrests were made possible through the efforts of the involved agencies:
The investigation resulted in the arrest of three adult males for violating Colorado Revised Statute18-7-402, Soliciting for Child Prostitution, a Class Three Felony
Law enforcement agencies across Colorado are committed to working together to protect our state’s children from predators. From all of us at the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our partner agencies, without whom this operation would not have been possible. It’s easy to look away and say ‘these kinds of things are not happening here’ but the truth is human trafficking is in our own backyard. The incredible efforts by all participating agencies has made an impact in our communities, but there is still more to be done. Anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Routt County Sheriff’s Office (970) 879-1090.
All Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Press release from Steamboat Springs Police –
Human Trafficking/Solicitation for Child Prostitution Arrests Made By Joint Agency Undercover Operation
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-October 7, 2023-This week, the Steamboat Springs Police Department was part of a joint undercover operation with the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, All Crimes Enforcement Team, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office that arrested three individuals on felony charges.
“This multi-agency operation was a collaboration to target sexual predators in our region,” said Chief Mark Beckett. “We will not tolerate human trafficking in our community, and we will continue working with our partners to ensure these people cannot operate in Steamboat Springs and the Routt County area.”
The undercover operation resulted in the arrest of three adult males seeking to pay to have sex with children under the age of 18. The arrests were for violating Colorado Revised Statute18-7-402, Soliciting for Child Prostitution, a Class Three Felony.
Anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to contact the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, 970.879.1090.
All persons accused of crimes are presumed innocent until and unless their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has agreed to provide up to ten wolves for the initial wolf reintroduction efforts into Colorado. The animals will be one to five years old, and they won’t be injured or sick. Colorado Parks and Wildlife will make efforts to transplant wolves that have not been involved in repeated depredations. Oregon Fish and Wildlife will help find the wolves. Colorado Parks and Wildlife will contract helicopter crews and spotter planes to capture the wolves. The animals will be tested and treated at the site. Measurements will be done and collars will be placed on the wolves. They’ll go in a heavy aluminum crate and be transported to Colorado either by truck or airplane. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the wolves will be captured and translocated between December 2023 and March of next year.
COLORADO WILL RECEIVE WOLVES FROM OREGON
The Steamboat Springs School District will have an all-electric fleet of school buses serving local routes next year. The district has just received a third grant from the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program, for which the district was given a total of $2,454,290 in funding, to convert the fleet to electric buses. There are seven electric buses operating now for daily routes, along with two propane and one gas bus. All routes will be electric next year.
AN ALL-ELECTRIC FLEET OF SCHOOL BUSES WILL SERVE THE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Quarry Visitor Center at Dinosaur National Monument in western Moffat County is getting some improvements, mainly to the heating and cooling system. The visitor center will close Oct. 23 for about a week, and then work starts after that. It should be finished by March 30. The Quarry Exhibit Hall will stay open so you can see the dinosaur fossils. The cost of the project is about $577,000.
IMPROVEMENTS SCHEDULED FOR QUARRY VISITOR CENTER AT DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
Five new firefighters will be sworn in Tuesday morning to Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue. They are Bryan Berry, Derek Diamond, Michael Hall, Angel Ramirez, and Dillon Sanders. Nick Fernandez is also being honored with a promotion to Firefighter/Engineer. The ceremony starts at 9 am. in Centennial Hall on 10th Street.
Voting begins Monday for those who have applied to be on the Board of Directors for Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. There are two three-year positions open. Voting closes Oct. 18. Applicant bios are posted on SSWSC.org Those running are Wendy Lynch, Rob Mitchell, Schuyler Routt, Ashley Deibold, Ryan Roberts, and Jen Thomsen.
The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners meets Tuesday morning. Commissioners are scheduled to make appointments to the Airport Advisory Board and the 14th Judicial District Community Corrections Board. Cathy Nielson from the Finance Department will present the proposed 2024 Moffat County Budget for adoption.
In football scores from Friday…
Moffat County trounced Coal Ridge, 49-3, for Homecoming
Hayden and Soroco both lost their games Friday night.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.