SPRINGS MAN SENTENCED FOR DRUGS, GUNS, CARJACKING

SPRINGS» Aman

C OLORA D O has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for drug and gun crimes, including a carjacking, according to authorities.

Miguel Lerma Cruz, 39, pleaded guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Denver and immediately was sentenced by U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson, according to a news release. Cruz, who is also known as Daniel Ortega, was remanded into custody.

Cruz was first charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 17, 2017, according to the release. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 26, 2017.

On May 29, 2017, Colorado Springs police were called about a disturbance at the El Ranchito Meat Market. A woman told police that Cruz had threatened her, reaching for a firearm tucked into the waistline of his pants, before leaving the market.

Cruz, driving a white Dodge pickup, then led police on a long chase through Colorado Springs, running red lights and slamming into a marked patrol vehicle and striking two vehicles.

His truck was disabled in a collision, the release said. Cruz jumped from the truck, dropping a 9mm handgun to the ground. Still armed, with an AR-15type rifle, Cruz carjacked a sedan from a woman and escaped.

Police seized the Dodge pickup and recovered a blue tote bag containing 270 grams of heroin, 623 grams of methamphetamine, $20,000 and ammunition.

Police found an additional $10,000 in the center console.

On June 1, 2017, detectives found Cruz in a Chevrolet Camaro in Colorado Springs and arrested him. Seized from the Camaro was $4,000 and an AR-15-style rifle with a sawed-off handle.

Woman gets 12 years for infant son’s death.

FORT

A woman whose infant son died while investigators say she was passed out from drug use for 18 hours on her birthday has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The Coloradoan reports 29-year-old Mandi Woodall was sentenced Wednesday after previously pleading guilty to child abuse.

The plea agreement was offered to protect Woodall’s now 7-year-old son from testifying against his mother.

Investigators say Woodall, a resident of Fort Collins, told them she took a two-hour nap with the 3-month-old boy in May 2017, and he was unresponsive when she awoke.

However, authorities believe she had been sleeping for nearly and entire day and that drugs played a role.

Every swab of surfaces taken throughout the house tested positive for methamphetamine, and both of Woodall’s surviving children tested positive for the drug.

Man killed in accident involving large tilling machine is identified.

Authorities have released the name of a man who was killed in an accident involving a large tilling machine.

Ray Garner, 65, of Brighton, was in a field when his clothing became entangled in an auger Monday afternoon. He died at the scene.

The Erie Police Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Weld County coroner’s office are investigating.