Jesus Miranda faces 18 felony charges

EAGLE — A Dotsero man’s alleged crime spree could land him in jail for the rest of this century.

Jesus Manuel Miranda was charged Tuesday with 18 felonies in Eagle County, after he allegedly tried to rob two businesses within a half hour on Sept. 4. He got away with no money from either.

However, he allegedly shot Alan Gonzales three times, smacked a store clerk in the head with an illegal hand gun, stole two cell phones from a customer, and tried to escape westbound on Interstate 70 through the Glenwood Canyon construction zone.

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That jaunt into Garfield County is why Miranda, 31, is back in Garfield County Court Wednesday afternoon where he will be charged with even more felonies. Police in Garfield County say he was in possession of a gun — a felony for the convicted felon and registered sex offender. He is also implicated in wheelman Daniel Lee Happle’s methamphetamine and other charges, stemming from their escape attempt.

Happle’s drivers license was suspended because he’s an habitual traffic offender, and he was reportedly driving a stolen car, investigators said.

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If convicted of everything, Miranda could spend more than 100 years behind bars, said District Attorney Bruce Brown.

The fines could approach the gross national product of some Third World countries.

District Attorney Bruce Brown had this cautionary comment.

“Please note that all persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until the contrary is proved in a court of law,” Brown said.

Eagle County Court Judge Katharine Sullivan set Miranda’s bond at $1 million.

Two bungled burglaries

Witnesses say Miranda and a 17-year-old female accomplice tried to rob a Gypsum clothing store, Tienda Montes. They got away with no money, and the girl was arrested shortly afterward.

It allegedly wasn’t Miranda’s only bungled robbery that day.

About a half hour before he and the girl tried to rob Tienda Montes, Miranda also tried to rob Dinero Rapido, a check cashing business in Eagle. He and his accomplice were caught on Dinero Rapido’s video, court records say.

The 17-year-old girl who was with Miranda during the two bungled burglaries was arrested that Friday afternoon. She’s being held in a Jefferson County youth facility.

Just outside Tienda Montes, Gonzalez encountered Miranda and the girl. In the ensuing struggle, Gonzalez was shot three times — once in his left hand, once under his left armpit and once in the middle of his chest. That last bullet miraculously missed his heart, aorta and both lungs. Gonzalez is recovering from his injuries.

Police say Miranda dropped the Smith and Wesson 9-millimeter with the serial numbers filed off.

Happle told police that “the ‘Mexican mafia” had called him and told him to pick up Jesus Miranda and give him a ride. He also told police that he ate a bag of methamphetamine as the cops were closing in.

According to a 2009 Glenwood Post story, the Mexican Mafia is a gang affiliate that operates in the Glenwood Springs area.

Miranda already had an open assault case at the time of the alleged robbery attempts.

Court records show he also has at least nine criminal convictions, beginning in 2005 when he was convicted as a sex offender.

Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.