By Peter Rossi
LAW WEEK COLORADO
Editor’s Note: Statewide trial reporter Peter Rossi rounds up today’s court news.

Defense attorney for Leo Cisneros, Laura Menninger, said police planted drugs on his daughter Auralia and conducted a sloppy investigation. Cisneros is accused of child abuse resulting in the death of Auralia after a shootout with burglars at his home in west Denver. The jury began deliberating Friday after the two week trial.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13320333

State Patrol Seeks To Dismiss Wrongful Arrest Suit
Stephanie Crawford was held in a Pueblo jail for about eight hours after the officer arrested her on a warrant for a person with the same first and last name. She has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for wrongful arrest, and now the Colorado State Patrol is seeking a dismissal of the lawsuit.
http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/09/13/news/local/doc4aac9d08a51de173117709.txt

Appellate Case Could Answer Dispensary Questions
Amendment 20, which legalized marijuana in Colorado in 2000, did not address medical marijuana dispensaries. People v. Clendenin, scheduled for Sept. 22, might go a long way in addressing the legality of dispensaries.
http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2009/09/could_people_v_clendenin_deal.php

Thompson’s Defense Presents New Testimony
Aaron Thompson’s defense will present testimony about the newly discovered evidence that was disclosed by prosecutors in the final days of the trial.
http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=11125192

DA Sees Turnover, Hires New Prosecutor
The 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has seen its office go from three deputy DAs to just one in the past few months. District Attorney Elizabeth Oldham has hired Amy Richards, a felony attorney from Arapahoe County, to join the office as a senior attorney.
http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2009/sep/13/das_office_will_have_new_senior_attorney_oct_1/

Additional Drivers Claim Stops By Coroner’s Vehicle
More drivers have come forward and alleged that former Douglas County Coroner’s Investigator Rick Nanney pulled them over and impersonated a police officer. Nanney resigned last week and faces charges from the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=123119&catid=339

DA Wants More Money For Criminal Trials
Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger anticipates asking the state for more money to fund criminal trials.
http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2009/09/13/091409_1a_DA_trial_budget.html

30 Years For Ponzi Scheme Ringleader
Uto Essein last week was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme.
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/09/07/daily72.html

Have a trial you want to tell us about? Do you have questions about our future trial coverage? Send your queries to Peter Rossi at prossi@circuitmedia.com.