Steamboat Pilot & Today

One of the Craig teenagers accused of robbing a man on the Yampa River Core Trail was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday.

Ellisa Rhiann Simpson, 18, and two teenage boys are accused of attacking a 25-year-old Steamboat Springs man on the bike path in March.

According to court documents, Simpson, 18-year-old Trever Hyer, and a 17-year-old boy allegedly tackled the man, put a fake gun to his head, took his wallet and broke his cell phone.

Routt County District Judge Paul McLimans sentenced Simpson to two years in prison and three years of parole for her role in the aggravated robbery.

In addition to the robbery charges, Simpson faced charges of possession of a Schedule 2 substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A presentencing investigation recommendation suggested that Simpson be sentenced to an alternative rehabilitation program and not prison.

District Attorney Kerry St. James asked McLimans to consider the severity of the crime and that Simpson was a known methamphetamine addict.

"This was an extremely serious and violent offense," he said. "I'm outraged by the recommendation of the probation department."

St. James also told McLimans to consider the message that a relaxed sentence would send to other drug abusers in the community.

"If Ms. Simpson is just sentenced to probation, what is there to deter a single meth addict in this town?" he asked.

St. James read excerpts of several Craig Daily Press articles in which Simpson was quoted about her meth habit. He said the articles were evidence she used drugs.

"It's obvious she went beyond just selling meth to support her habit. She resorted to violence," he said.

Simpson's attorney, Ron Smith, said Simpson had been notified she was an acceptable candidate for the alternative program and that jail time would not do anything to deter her addiction.

Smith said Simpson has served 161 days in Routt County Jail, which amounts to almost six months.

"During her time in jail, her head cleared up. She could think clearer, she could talk clearer, even her face filled out," Smith said.

Smith said that Simpson was immature and that she deserved to be punished for her actions.

"But sending her away is not going to solve her problems," he said.

Before the sentencing, a tearful and shaky Simpson read a letter she wrote to the victim of the crime, who attended the sentencing.

"I apologize for the fear I instilled and the harm I caused," she said. "This is not the person I am."

McLimans told Simpson that because he was not sentencing her on the drug charges alone that he could not overlook the violence of the crime.

"This is a crime that is shocking to this community. It would certainly be shocking to any community in Colorado," he said.

McLimans gave Simpson a 161-day credit for the time she had served.

"I do hope that in the course of your commitment in the Department of Corrections that you address your addiction and come out more mature and able to live as an adult," he said.

The 17-year-old in the case was sentenced to two years in prison. Hyer will be sentenced in District Court on Sept. 26.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234

or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com