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Another deal offered in Aspen drug case

Wyatt Haupt Jr.
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN ” A plea offer has been made to suspected drug dealer Devin Schutter of Aspen, who is accused of multiple felonies in connection with his February 2008 arrest at a relative’s home.

The offer was extended this week by the district attorney’s office in Aspen, which is prosecuting the year-old case.

Public Defender Stephen McCrohan, who is representing Schutter, said Wednesday he received the offer, but could not discuss it without consent from his client. Schutter is scheduled to appear in Pitkin County District Court on Monday.



He is being held on $250,000 bond at the Pitkin County jail.

The offer most likely includes a substantial amount of prison time, given that Schutter faces life behind bars if convicted as charged. The counts against him include intent to distribute a schedule II controlled substance (cocaine), and possession of a schedule II controlled substance.




The count for dealing cocaine carries a maximum penalty of 96 years in prison, largely because of sentencing enhancements that kick in since he has a number of other felony convictions.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin also declined to discuss the proposal.

The offer is the second such proposal tendered to Schutter in the last eight months. He was also offered a plea deal in July by the district attorney’s office. That deal was not finalized.

Schutter was arrested Feb. 20 at his mom’s house in Aspen. He and Elizabeth Klempf were found by Aspen police in Schutter’s bedroom during the execution of a search warrant, according to court documents.

The search allegedly turned up a number of drug-related items, including cocaine and products used to “cut,” weigh and package the material.

Klempf later pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and received one year of probation. She was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.

Schutter, 30, also stands accused of a crime in Fremont County. He was arrested Nov. 6 for allegedly violating his bond conditions in Pitkin County after a warrant was issued in connection with a charge of distribution of a schedule I substance in Fremont County.

An affidavit filed in Fremont County Court alleges Schutter played a large part in a prison drug distribution ring that involved his younger brother, Stefan, who is serving a 10-year sentence at Four Mile Correctional Center in Canon City.

An investigator claims the brothers were involved in a number of drug deals last year. The investigator pieced together the information by listening to telephone conversations between the brothers that were recorded via the Colorado Inmate Phone System. The system allows for such monitoring.

The case is pending.

whaupt@aspentimes.com