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Three homicide cases proceed through courts

Cole Pollard
Courtesy Photo

— A preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for Cole Pollard, the man accused of murdering Patricia Richmond in North Routt County.

The hearing is now scheduled for 8:30 a.m. April 26.

Pollard, 22, appeared in court Thursday with a new attorney, a public defender who typically handles cases in Denver.



Pollard’s last preliminary hearing was cancelled following an emergency request from the Routt County Public Defender’s Office. No explanation was given for canceling the hearing.

The body of Richmond, 22, was discovered June 29.



“I’m glad to see some progress in this case, so thank you,” District Judge Shelley Hill told attorneys during Thursday’s hearing.

Pollard was arrested July 1 after Routt County Sheriff’s Office deputies found him at a campsite in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area.

Court records show Pollard told deputies he “snapped,” choked Patricia Richmond to death and then raped her.

Pollard has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and theft.

Two other homicide cases are working their way through the Routt County courts.

Lucas Johnson, 39, is awaiting trial for the murder of Steamboat Springs resident Edward Zimmerman.

Zimmerman was reported missing Feb. 28 after not showing up for work.

Investigators believe Zimmerman was killed as part of a robbery of medical marijuana he was growing at his home.

Zimmerman’s body was found in a chicken coop behind Johnson’s home.

Alternate attorneys were appointed for Johnson, which caused a delay in the case. The case is being reviewed Feb. 5.

Thomas Lee Johnson, 45, is charged with first-degree murder, trespassing and criminal mischief related to the 2000 murder of Lori Bases.

Johnson was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2002 and subsequently won two appeals. This will be his third trial.

His new three-week trial was scheduled to begin Dec. 28, but was cancelled after there was a request for a preliminary hearing. That hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9 and 10, and attorneys will also argue whether the trial should be held in Routt County.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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