GOLDEN, Colo. — A bounty hunter who was initially accused of kidnapping and assaulting a lady he was tasked with taking into custody was sentenced to 5 years in jail on Friday following a plea deal.
Jesse Wagner, 49, accepted a plea deal in January that dismissed all of his costs aside from possession of a weapon by a earlier offender and unlawful use of a stun gun. He beforehand confronted kidnapping, illegal sexual contact, housebreaking and assault costs.
Wagner appeared in Jefferson County Courtroom on Friday, the place he was sentenced to 5 years in jail. The sentence was agreed upon by the prosecution and protection throughout plea deal negotiations.
Wagner has been in jail since August 2023 and was credited for 573 days of time served.
- Denver7 Investigates’ Natalie Chuck particulars the workforce’s reporting into Colorado’s bounty searching business within the video participant under
Denver7 Investigates’ Natalie Chuck particulars reporting into Colorado’s bounty searching business
In courtroom Friday, Deputy District Lawyer Brynn Chase famous that this was Wagner’s fifth felony conviction.
“It’s abundantly clear that he has introduced a big ongoing group security danger. He is engaged in violent conduct or has been accused of that on a number of events,” Chase mentioned. “He believes himself to be above the legislation in a number of respects.”
Wagner’s protection lawyer mentioned their consumer was seeking to benefit from a possibility to raised himself whereas in custody.
Denver7 Investigates first reported on this case in August 2024, exposing an absence of regulation within the bounty hunter business, which permits folks with legal information — together with those that dedicated crimes on the job — to work in Colorado.
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Denver7 Investigates uncovers sample of bounty hunters arrested on the job
After Friday’s listening to, Chase advised Denver7 Investigates there are difficulties when making an attempt to prosecute all these circumstances, noting that victims will be unreliable.
“These victims are sometimes probably reluctant to interact with the prosecution,” she mentioned.
Chase added that the dearth of state regulation within the business permits bounty hunters to take advantage of susceptible folks by holding the concept of taking them again to jail over their heads.
“We’re working in what I’d equate to the Wild West in terms of bounty hunters,” Chase mentioned. “When there is not any correct regulation, clearly there is not any oversight. There’s no one sort of on the helm attempting to find out whether or not or not anyone is performing in a correct means.”
Wagner nonetheless faces an open case in California, the place he’s accused of falsely imprisoning a lady. He beforehand served time in California for crimes dedicated whereas working as a bounty hunter.
A spokesperson for the district lawyer’s workplace in San Diego County confirmed to Denver7 Investigates on Friday that the workplace is looking for extradition however couldn’t remark additional.
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