Former hotel employees waive hearings
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Two former Hampton Inn employees accused of stealing about $39,000 from the hotel waived their rights to preliminary hearings Wednesday in Routt County Court. Their cases were bound to District Court.
Angela Ellen Robinson, 41, and Sandra Yanira McMahon, 43, both of Steamboat Springs, were arrested in September on suspicion of embezzling about $39,000 from the Hampton Inn.
n Two people accused of providing alcohol to minors appeared in Routt County Court on Wednesday. Travis Thomas Browning, 28, and Jamie Marie Adams, 38, both of Steamboat Springs, are each facing three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, Browning and Adams served alcohol to three underage girls around Oct. 17. The two were arrested Oct. 19. County Judge James Garrecht told Browning and Adams that they could face two to six years in jail and pay $500,000 if convicted on the charges. Browning appeared in court without any legal representation. Adams is in custody at the Routt County Jail. Deputy District Attoerney Tammy Jenson told Garrecht she had not made any offers in the case because of the multiple counts of the alleged crime and the severity of the crime. Adams also asked Garrecht to consider giving her a personal recognizance bond because she has been suffering from medical conditions. Jenson said that although the D.A.'s Office is aware of her medical problems, Adams does have a lengthy criminal record. "Her medical condition is concerning, but the length of her criminal record is concerning, as well. The fact is that three young girls were given so much alcohol they were basically incapacitated," Jenson said. Garrecht denied Adams' request but lowered the bond to $1,000. Garrecht continued Browning's and Adams' cases to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 9.
n A 27-year-old Steamboat Springs man accused of trying to disarm a police officer while he was being arrested waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Routt County Court on Wednesday. Alexander Savino Martinez is facing seven felony charges, including five counts of violating bail bond conditions, possessing a controlled Schedule 2 substance with the intent to distribute and attempting to disarm a police officer. Martinez was arrested Oct. 17, when police officers stopped a vehicle Martinez was riding in and realized he had violated a protection order earlier that night. Officers had to fight Martinez to the ground because he was being aggressive when they tried to arrest him, according to the charges. Martinez is accused of attempting to grab an officer's gun twice. Officers reported finding 14.3 grams of methamphetamine in Martinez's pockets, as well as several plastic bags. Martinez told Garrecht that he would waive his right to a preliminary hearing to keep his "doors open." He said he thought the only way he would be offered a plea agreement with the District Attorney's Office was to forgo a preliminary hearing. "It's kind of a Catch 22," he said. Martinez also asked Garrecht to modify an existing protection order so that Martinez would be able to see his children. Assistant District Attorney Kerry St. James opposed the modification. "These new charges show (Martinez) has a severe drug problem or he is a drug dealer based on how much meth was on him," St. James said. Garrecht declined modifying the protection order. Martinez will next appear at 1p.m. Nov. 7 in District Court. -- Pilot & Today staff
The women are accused of keeping former employees on the payroll and cashing their checks. Both women are facing Class 4 felony theft charges as well as felony forgery charges.
The women are accused of using the names of about 10 former employees to cash checks between Dec. 16, 2004, and Aug. 3, 2005. Robinson allegedly cashed $30,724.67 in paychecks. McMahon allegedly cashed $8,305.61 in paychecks.
At the time of the alleged incidents, Robinson was hotel manager, and McMahon was director of housekeeping.
Robinson appeared in Routt County Court on Wednesday with her attorney, Charles Feldmann, to waive her preliminary hearing. Feldmann requested the case be bound over to Routt County District Court.
Feldmann said he had not reached any disposition or agreement with the District Attorney's Office and that he had just received discovery in the case.
Robinson next will appear in District Court at 1 p.m. Nov. 22.
McMahon, who is being represented by public defender Trevor McFee, also waived her right to a preliminary hearing. McMahon's case was scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 21 in District Court.
After binding the case, County Judge James Garrecht told McMahon she would have to sign a protection order against all Hampton Inn employees. The protection order would exclude her from having any contact with them.
McFee told Garrecht that McMahon has existing living arrangements with a Hampton Inn employee and that it would be a hardship for McMahon to be ordered to leave the home.
Assistant District Attorney Kerry St. James opposed any changes to the protection order.
Garrecht decided to modify the protection order to allow McMahon to continue living with the employee.
-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234
or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com
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