EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — Inside a packed El Paso County courtroom Thursday, dozens of victims watched as one of many people accused of improperly storing the our bodies of their family members had his bond lowered.
Jon and Carie Hallford, the house owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Residence in Penrose, are accused of mishandling the stays of almost 200 our bodies. An investigation into the funeral house started in early October after reviews of a horrific odor coming from the constructing. The Hallfords have been arrested in Oklahoma round a month later.
Jon Hallford was initially scheduled for a preliminary listening to on Thursday afternoon, however his protection counsel filed a movement to proceed the preliminary listening to. Within the courtroom, protection attorneys stated they’ve greater than 7,000 pages of paperwork to overview and wish extra time earlier than the preliminary listening to.
Hallford was current within the courtroom Thursday, carrying an orange jumpsuit and watching the decide intently. One of many victims within the courtroom whispered, “He may a minimum of attempt to look sorry,” as she watched Hallford. His preliminary listening to was pushed to February 8 at 1:30 p.m.
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As an alternative of a preliminary listening to, the place prosecutors intention to indicate a decide they’ve sufficient proof for a trial, Hallford had a bond listening to. He was initially given a $2 million cash-only bond, however his protection argued it needs to be decreased to a $100,000 money property or surety bond.
Decide William Moller granted the decreased bond to Hallford after listening to arguments from either side.
Protection attorneys argued the $2 million cash-only bond was unattainable and subsequently violated Hallford’s rights. The case will take a very long time and since Hallford couldn’t afford the excessive bond quantity, protection counsel stated he can be sitting in jail for months, or probably years.
Hallford’s attorneys additionally identified he’s a veteran who was honorably discharged and has a 17-year-old little one who needs to complete their highschool schooling within the space.
Then again, prosecutors stated the alleged prison exercise on this case seemingly spanned 4 years, and that Hallford’s arrest warrant reveals a scarcity of excellent character, describing him as “unreliable and untrustworthy.”
Prosecutors stated it ought to come as no shock they might be looking for a jail sentence on this case, and that if Hallford have been convicted of all the costs towards him with consecutive sentences, he may serve 525 years in jail. Of the entire instances the 4th Judicial District has filed since 1980, there is just one case from 2009 with extra felony fees than this one, in response to prosecutors.
The prosecution additionally pointed on the market was a felony case towards Hallford in Oklahoma that was in the end dismissed. Nevertheless, Decide Moller would later say it’s “undisputed” that Hallford doesn’t have a prison file, since he was not convicted within the Oklahoma case.
A handful of textual content messages, allegedly despatched from Hallford, have been learn by prosecutors within the courtroom. One from October 6, 2020, learn, “I’m going to jail, which might be what is going on to occur.” One other from a number of days later, which prosecutors stated was despatched to his spouse, learn, “If Penrose have been to be uncovered, we lose the whole lot anyway.”
One other textual content from Could 15, 2020, stated, “I do not give a f*** about this household. I will give a f*** about what’s occurring in Penrose… my one and solely focus is preserving this household out of jail.” Prosecutors stated that textual content message is an instance of Hallford being a flight threat, on high of being arrested in Oklahoma. Based on prosecutors, Hallford “fled” to a Native American reservation in Oklahoma underneath the impression he couldn’t be arrested there.
Different texts offered by prosecutors from October 2023, allegedly written by Hallford, stated, “We’re secure and laying low” and that he “is simply going out at evening and expects a warrant quickly.”
Decide Moller stated he acknowledges the sensitivity of this matter, however he should keep away from pointless pretrial confinement and the court docket can trend situations that can defend public security and stop Hallford from fleeing the world. The decide added that he can not make a discovering on the chosen texts offered by the prosecution with out context.
Because the decide defined his reasoning for reducing the bond quantity, most of the victims gasped, cried, shook their heads and wrung their fingers. Moller added that the $100,000 money surety bond is 10 occasions the quantity the bond schedule would require.
As soon as Hallford can meet the brand new bond quantity, he will probably be launched from jail. He should put on an ankle monitor, bodily meet with pretrial companies thrice every week, and have sobriety monitoring as a few of the situations outlined by the court docket.
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The devastation of the victims within the courtroom, whose family members have been allegedly impacted by Hallford’s actions, was tangible. Heather DeWolf held {a photograph} of her son, Zach, all the time.
“He was one of many funniest folks I’ve ever recognized in my life, additionally one of many smartest folks I’ve ever recognized in my life. And I say that as not simply as a mom, however as anyone who knew him,” DeWolf stated. “He was kind-hearted. He didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve this.”
DeWolf stated her son died in July 2020 on the age of 33 after an unintended overdose. She stated the household used Return to Nature Funeral Residence for her son’s cremation.
“It was devastating to lose him within the first place. Devastating, past devastating,” stated DeWolf. “I really feel as if I’ve misplaced him once more.”
Struggling to talk after the bond listening to, DeWolf stated she might be the angriest she has ever been after listening to Hallford might be launched from jail underneath the situations set by the court docket.
“It is a disservice to the entire households which are concerned on this,” stated DeWolf. “It is a disservice to my son.”
Understanding will probably be a painstakingly lengthy court docket course of, DeWolf stated she’s going to do her finest to indicate up for each continuing, carrying Zach’s image together with her.
“I’ll stand right here and I’ll signify you. I’ll be right here for each single certainly one of these [court hearings],” stated DeWolf. “I’ll share his image to allow them to see his face, to allow them to know who he was. I could have failed him on the finish, however I am stepping up for him.”
DeWolf added that the state must strengthen rules surrounding the funeral business. Hallford’s bond listening to comes simply days after the Division of Regulatory Companies (DORA) launched a dawn overview that recommends legislators regulate funeral administrators.
“Colorado must step up. We would not be right here if Colorado had completed what they wanted to do,” stated DeWolf. “Disgrace on Colorado for permitting this to occur. They’re simply as accountable.”
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Arguments have been additionally heard about unsealing the arrest affidavit within the case. Protection attorneys argued the arrest papers are “editorialized and inflammatory” and that freedom of the press mustn’t outweigh Hallford’s proper to a good trial. In the meantime, prosecutors stated there isn’t a statutory or case legislation foundation to proceed to seal the affidavit, and that many high-profile instances within the district have been in a position to navigate the court docket system with unsealed affidavits.
Decide Moller will wait to resolve whether or not or to not unseal the affidavit till he hears from attorneys representing Carie Hallford.
Denver7 requested 4th Judicial District Lawyer Michael Allen if Carie Hallford’s preliminary listening to will proceed as scheduled subsequent week. Allen stated so far as he is aware of, her preliminary listening to continues to be set for January 11.
Decide reduces bond for Return to Nature funeral house proprietor
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