District Attorney Matt Karzen of the 14th Judicial District has submitted the following letter for publication regarding a Jan. 1, 2026,. article in the Steamboat Pilot & Today.
January 6, 2026 – Submitted for publication to Steamboat Radio and the Steamboat Pilot
As both an attorney practicing criminal law for over 30 years, and the current 14th Judicial District Attorney, I am reluctant but obligated to respond to the Steamboat Pilot article published last week regarding the District Attorney’s office. Regrettably, the article contained substantial and material inaccuracies and misrepresentations. As the DA for this jurisdiction, I have a duty to ensure the reputation and perception of the office, whatever it may be, is based on reality and truth. It would be a dereliction of duty, to the office and the community, to allow the office to be judged on false information.
Because the article suggests the legal assessment of a particular case was flawed, it is important to address that implication directly. Allowing inaccurate descriptions of prosecutorial decision-making to go uncorrected risks misunderstanding how these decisions are made and could ultimately undermine confidence in the system based on inaccurate information.
The case at issue was declined for prosecution only after a thorough investigation and careful review of all available evidence, including forensic information and multiple witness statements. The review was conducted by the most experienced attorneys in this office and involved a deliberate and comprehensive legal analysis. The conclusion reached was based solely on the evidence and the applicable law. Any assertion that the decision was made without adequate investigation or analysis is incorrect.
It is also incorrect to suggest that the District Attorney’s Office failed to communicate with the reporting party, an adult, or their family. Throughout the duration of this matter, the office engaged in multiple communications, including status updates, direct phone contact, discussion with the parents of the adult victim, providing a thorough written explanation of the reasons for the decision, and hours of meetings with the victim, their parent, and their chosen advocates. These discussions were intended to be candid, respectful, and sensitive to the circumstances, while also accurately explaining the legal realities that governed the decision.
Ultimately, the case was not prosecutable under Colorado law. While the dissatisfaction felt by the victim and their family is understandable, prosecutorial decisions cannot be driven by desired outcomes. Prosecutors are bound by ethical rules and constitutional requirements that require charges to be filed only when there is a reasonable likelihood of proving every element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. When that standard cannot be met, filing charges is neither lawful nor just.
Explaining a declination of prosecution to a victim is one of the most difficult responsibilities of this office. Those conversations can be painful, even when handled with care and empathy. While we hope those conversations always go smoothly, sometimes they do not, as they involve deeply personal and emotional subjects. Nevertheless, victims are entitled to honest explanations, and this office takes that responsibility seriously. Transparency, even when the message is unwelcome, is an essential part of treating victims with dignity and respect. The District Attorney’s office remains deeply committed to serving victims in a fair, dignified and respectful way, incorporating appropriate forms of trauma-informed practices wherever possible. We continually evaluate our protocols, and we look forward to working with the Division of Criminal Justice and the District Attorney’s Council in ensuring the Victim’s Rights Act is universally understood and appropriately applied, because it is a complex and sensitive task and our goal is to do the best possible job for victims while faithfully upholding the law.
Criminal investigation and prosecution is serious and difficult work that carries immense consequences for victims, defendants, and the community. The rules and standards that govern this work exist to protect the integrity of the justice system and to prevent wrongful prosecutions. The law and the evidence must guide our process, and neither law enforcement nor prosecutors are permitted to allow social pressures, popular academic trends, public outrage or emotion to influence our work. Adhering to those principles is not in conflict with victim-centered justice. It is essential to it.
This office will continue to act with integrity, fairness and compassion, guided by the law and the facts of each case. That is how we best serve victims, protect the community, and uphold the public trust in the justice system.
Matt Karzen
District Attorney
