The attorney for a man in Glenwood Springs was accused of erratically firing a weapon at a police officer and his roommate last summer, and said his client was being questioned without his lawyer’s presence. claimed.
Craig Robbins, then 44, allegedly shot his roommate (who is also his acting landlord) in the abdomen in July 2022 over an eviction altercation. Roommate survived.
Robbins also took another roommate hostage and eventually began firing on Glenwood Springs police officers who happened to be patrolling the 1000 block of Riverview Drive at the time. This caused a standoff of several hours between Robbins and several responding officers.
Negotiators succeeded in getting him out of the house without anyone else getting hurt.
Robbins was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and held in Garfield County Jail on a $2 million bond.
Public defender Alex Haynes told 9th Judicial District Judge Ann Nordine on Tuesday that Robbins has been contacted by law enforcement without an attorney to protect his rights since.
“Law enforcement is communicating with my clients without the knowledge of the attorneys,” Haynes said. What’s going on?Where’s my lawyer?
“We certainly should have been notified.”
Haynes also accused the state of mishandling a collection of DNA samples taken from Robbins.
“The first one was improperly executed and we expect to be assured of being informed of any future contact with Mr. Robbins,” he said.
He then requested a preliminary hearing on all of Robbins’ charges, including violent crimes. This allows defense witnesses to testify during the preliminary hearing.
Deputy District Attorney Heidi Bauer contested the preliminary hearing on violent crimes.
“I think I can give you a brief explanation on that matter if you want,” she said. “But I understand setting up a reserve on every other account. I think it will take half a day. It’s a reserve, so I don’t think we’ll need witnesses for the defense.”
Norrdin allowed Haynes to submit a briefing within three weeks.
A preliminary hearing in Robbins, at which prosecutors must present sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial, is set for 9:00 a.m. on May 1.
Ray K. Erku, reporter and assistant editor for the Post Independent Western Garfield County, can be reached at 612-423-5273 or rerku@postindependent.com.
