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Aspen man faces attempted murder charge

Aspen, CO Colorado

ASPEN, Colorado ” Authorities arrested an Aspen, Colorado man Friday after he allegedly attempted to kill a woman after a wrap party for a movie that was filmed in town.

Christopher Melendez II, 30, stands accused of criminal attempt to commit murder in the second degree, assault in the first degree and first-degree burglary. Each counts carries a potential prison term of 10 to 32 years, based on state sentencing guidelines.

Melendez is also accused of violating a restraining order. The count stems from another case in which he is accused of assault.



He was advised of the potential counts at an afternoon hearing in Pitkin County District Court. Melendez is being held on $45,000 bond at the Pitkin County jail.

Officers arrested him about 11 a.m. Friday, after Aspen police officers located him at the Limelight Lodge. The arrest occurred a few hours after Melendez allegedly attempted to choke a woman at her apartment following a wrap party for the film, “Cougar Hunting,” at Bad Billy’s Bar.

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The woman apparently left the bar sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. with a male friend and headed to her apartment, according to an Aspen police report. A short while later Melendez and an “unidentified blonde male” showed up at her apartment.

Melendez apparently drank a beer while he was the apartment.

At some point the woman told everybody to leave her apartment because she wanted to go to bed. After her male friend left the apartment, Melendez and the unidentified blonde man “began insulting” the woman.

The woman said she again told Melendez to leave. That is when he allegedly “attacked her and threw her to the ground,” the police report states. “Melendez began choking her with his hands.”

He also apparently said: “I’m going to hurt you.” During the assault the woman said she felt like she was “going to die.” She also suggested she passed out while being choked by Melendez.

The woman later complained of pain in her neck and was apparently treated at the scene by medics but did not want to be taken to Aspen Valley Hospital. She also apparently had a cut on her wrist.

When police officers caught up with Melendez at the Limelight Lodge he was observed to have injuries, including a scratch on the right side of his neck and a bruise under his armpit, the report states.

Melendez is to next appear in court at 10:30 a.m. June 1.

whaupt@aspentimes.com


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