Judge accused of using rifle to threaten person

Thompson, currently on planned paid time off, removed from leadership role

Colorado District Judge Mark Thompson is accused of using an Ar-15style rifle to threaten another person on July 25, court documents made public Wednesday revealed.

Thompson, who at the time served as the chief judge for the 5th Judicial District, was charged with felony menacing Saturday, nearly three months after the incident.

The 5th Judicial District covers Summit, Clear Creek, Eagle and Lake counties.

The name of the victim was redacted from a complaint filed against the judge, and the document did not include any details about how or where in Summit County the incident unfolded. July 25 was a Sunday.

Menacing with a real or simulated weapon is a Class 5 felony and typically is punished with one to three years in prison, followed by parole, according to the state’s sentencing guidelines.

People commit felony menacing if they purposely make someone fear being seriously injured and if, while doing so, they either use a deadly weapon or something that looks like a weapon, or tell the victim they are armed with a deadly weapon, according to state law.

Thompson was removed from his leadership position as chief judge when the charge was filed and has been on planned paid time off. When he returns to work, he will resume his duties as a judge, but not as chief judge, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch.

The 5th Judicial District Attorney’s office requested that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation take on the investigation on July 25.

Because of the obvious conflicts of interest, 1st Judicial District Attorney Alexis King’s office, which covers Jefferson and Gilpin counties, will handle the case as special prosecutors. CBI provided a report on its investigation to King’s office Sept. 2, spokeswoman Susan Medina said.

Court records that detailed the accusation against Thompson initially were kept secret at the request of 5th Judicial District Attorney Heidi Mccollum. She said in a filing that secrecy was necessary in part because Thompson was a “prominent member of the Summit County community and a public official” and because publicly revealing details of the case “could jeopardize the ongoing investigation and/ or interfere with the rights of the defendant, including irreversible harm to reputation.”

A judge reversed that decision Wednesday and ordered the documents be redacted then made public.

Thompson’s attorney did not immediately return requests for comment.

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