Aspen burglary suspects wanted by state of Virginia
District attorney presents FBI warrant recommendation in bond reduction hearing

Editor’s note (updated): Unless individuals hold positions of public trust or there is imminent danger of harm to the public (e.g., active shooter) or there is an exceptional circumstance, suspects arrested/charged will not be named/identified until there is a conviction or a plea deal is taken.
A man suspected of burglarizing an Aspen watch store was denied bond reduction Tuesday after new evidence suggested he is wanted for out-of-state crimes, along with one of his co-defendants.
The suspect, who told Aspen Police he is a 41-year-old from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was arrested after he allegedly attempted to burglarize Avi and Co., tunneling through two walls of adjacent businesses with four other men to access a vault containing watches worth up to $400,000.
Deputy District Attorney James Stone presented evidence suggesting the 41-year-old is wanted by the state of Virginia after speaking with Aspen Police detectives Tuesday morning. A Virginia police department sent an email to local law enforcement earlier this month regarding the 41-year-old and another burglary suspect, according to Stone.
“My department has obtained state warrants on (35-year-old from Chile, 41-year-old from Buenos Aires) on the advice of the (Federal Bureau of Investigations Task Force Officer),” the email states.
Aspen Police Investigations Sergeant Rick Magnuson on Tuesday told The Aspen Times the two men are suspected of burglarizing a retail store last September in Roanoke County, Virginia.
Stone added on Tuesday that the 41-year-old’s DNA was also found in a New York crime scene last September. He is suspected of burglarizing a residence in Nassau County, Magnuson said.
“That is the information we received from a detective in New York so I believe they will be seeking warrants for that as well,” Magnuson said.
Given the evidence, Stone suggested in the hearing the 41-year-old’s bond remain at $100,000 cash only.
“I respectfully object to a reduction in bond given all the attendant circumstances,” Stone said.
Stone previously objected to a bond reduction for the suspect in Dec. 20 court proceedings because the suspect had lied about his identity to authorities.
The 41-year-old and the four other suspects attempted the burglary on the night between Nov. 10 and Nov. 11, fleeing the scene in a rental car after two close calls with Aspen Police. Four men suspected of the burglary were detained the following day in Vail.
Three of the four detained suspects remain in the Pitkin County Jail and are subject to ongoing court proceedings. One of the suspects posted bond last month and was taken by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The fifth suspect was never detained.
Defense Attorney Justie Nicol, who is representing the 41-year-old, asked Tuesday if Judge Laura Makar would consider reducing bond for the suspect given the circumstances.
“If the court is considering allowing reduction in bond, even with the New York and Virginia information, now, I do have a substantive bond argument after meeting with my client, his family, and some other folks,” Nicol said.
Makar said she would not consider a bond reduction at this time.
“I don’t think it makes sense to move forward with a bond reduction hearing this morning, based on this information,” Makar said in light of the new evidence.
But she ordered a new Colorado Pretrial Assessment Tool — CPAT — be administered for the suspect under his real name. A CPAT determines the defendant’s likelihood to commit more crimes or fail to appear for further court proceedings if released on bond, among other evaluations.
The suspect was charged with three felony counts of second degree burglary, one felony count of criminal attempt to commit theft, one felony count of attempt to influence a public servant, one felony count of criminal mischief, and two misdemeanors.
Makar set the 41-year-old’s next court proceedings for March 3.
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.
Aspen burglary suspects wanted by state of Virginia
A man suspected of burglarizing an Aspen watch store was denied bond reduction Tuesday after new evidence suggested he is wanted for out-of-state crimes.
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