By Shannon Lukens.
Holt Lemaster entered a guilty plea in Routt County Court today. The 18-year-old pled guilty to 1st Degree Assault, in an alleged knife attack on a local pre-school teacher in April of 2024, when she was house-sitting for a family during spring break. Lemaster, who was 16 at the time, allegedly stabbed 29-year-old Kylie Leggett twice in the abdomen. The ORDER REGARDING PROBABLE CAUSE AND TRANSFER says Lemaster was wearing a ski mask and the two had never met before.
That document also says, “Ms. Leggett was admitted to the hospital for a month, during which time she underwent five surgeries, suffered from acute blood loss, an abdominal infection, and had seven drains put in. She suffered a liver laceration and an injury to her pancreas. It is likely that Ms. Leggett will have to have a portion of her pancreas removed at some point, which will render her diabetic. “The document goes on to say, “Following the incident, among other medical and psychological ailments, Ms. Leggett is unable to eat normally and will be unable to bear children.”
Sentencing is December 5.
Lemaster will be sentenced to between four and six years at the Youthful Offender System in Pueblo (YOS), which is the only facility of its kind in Colorado. It’s for juveniles convicted of certain offenses. He has to be screened with a pre-sentence investigation order, and accepted by the warden to see if he is deemed acceptable.
From the YOS website, on Intake Classification: The initial inmate classification is completed at intake to determine the incarcerated individual’s initial custody level and facility assignment. The intake classification will utilize the inmate’s criminal, educational, and employment history, the severity of the offense for which they were convicted, and behavior during their time in county jail to determine their initial classification. Classifications are completed in accordance with the process and per the criteria outlined in Administrative Regulation 600-01 Offender Classification.
If not, Lemaster could be sentenced to up to 17 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections by Routt County Judge Billy-George Hertzke.
At the sentencing on December 5, Judge Hertzke will announce the sentence at the Youthful Offender System and announce the suspended sentence to the Department of Corrections. If Lemaster does something unacceptable during his time at the facility in Pueblo, he will automatically be sentenced to the Department of Corrections.
Regarding Reclassification, the YOS website says, “An inmate’s classification after the initial intake classification is primarily driven by his or her behavior during their incarceration.”
The victim, Kylie Leggett, agreed to the plea, according to Deputy District Attorney Joseph Bucci, who says Lemaster pled guilty to the top charge of 1st degree assault which is Felony Level 3. She has set up a GoFundMe page.
The plea agreement also asks for restitution for Crime Victim Compensation in the amount of $8,168.71, and any other restitution to be considered that must be submitted within 35 days.
Lemaster is currently in the Routt County Jail.
Sentencing is at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5.
- March 3, 2025 — Juvenile charged with stabbing local pre-school teacher will be tried as an adult
- Feb. 2, 2025 — Judge hears closing arguments on whether to try juvenile suspect as an adult in the case involving the stabbing of a local pre-school teacher
- May 30, 2024 — Pre-school teacher Kylie Leggett returns after 30 days in the hospital