News in brief
Aspen police made seven arrests Friday night and sent two people to the detox center in Glenwood Springs in the first big night related to Winter X Games 10.While most of the arrests were misdemeanors related to drinking, one incident caused serious injury to a 25-year-old man unlucky enough to be on the last downvalley bus early Saturday morning.The Pitkin County Sheriff’s office is on the lookout for two suspects who got off the bus near the Lazy Glen bus stop.The bus driver stopped the bus west of the Lazy Glen stop and demanded that two men causing a disturbance leave the bus. Minutes later, the driver was informed by riders that another rider was unconscious and bleeding in the back. He was transported to Aspen Valley Hospital with serious injuries to his head and face and was scheduled to be transported Saturday afternoon or evening to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.Authorities ask that anyone who can provide information about the incident call 920-5310.
GRAND JUNCTION (AP) – Some out-of-state wine enthusiasts would be able to buy directly from their favorite Colorado vineyards under a bill moving through the state Legislature.Current law allows out-of-state residents to purchase wine directly from a Colorado vineyard only when visiting the business or while at a wine festival. Vintners say the law slows business to potential customers who live outside Colorado.Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, recently introduced legislation that would bring the state in line with a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which said states that permit in-state vintners to sell directly to consumers may not deny that right to out-of-state producers.The bill also would require out-of-state wineries to purchase a permit – at a cost of about $50 – to ship their wine to consumers in Colorado.House Bill 1120 cleared the House Finance Committee on a unanimous vote last week and moved to the House floor. Buescher said he didn’t expect any opposition.
COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) – Investigators say a 32-year-old man who worked his way up from age 17 to manage two bicycle shops is suspected of stealing more than $400,000 in gear and selling it on eBay, the Gazette reported Saturday.The newspaper said William Reese Houghton, 32, sold the gear on eBay. He was arrested in November for thefts from Pro Cycling between 2003 and 2005 of $375,000 and that led to an investigation of his work at Colorado Cyclist. Now he is charged with stealing $70,025 worth of gear from Colorado Cyclist, said police detective Fred Walker.Houghton made a preliminary appearance in court Thursday and will be back Wednesday at which time a judge will determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial.Walker said Houghton made a profit of $44,549 from the stolen goods at Colorado Cyclist, based on his PayPal online payment account, which tracked his eBay sales. He sold heart-rate monitors, bicycles and other items, often below retail prices.He had been hired at age 17 at Colorado Cyclist in 1991. “He was a success there, hired as a warehouse stock boy and worked his way up to general manager, the No. 2 man in charge,” Walker said.Although he was fired in December 2002 after the owner became suspicious, no charges were filed.
