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Eagle: 90 days for biting ear

Dawn Witlin
Vail, CO Colorado

EDWARDS, Colorado ” A man who bit off a portion of his brother-in-law’s ear in a drunken rage was sentenced to 90 days in jail Wednesday, authorities said.

Henry T. Benites, 24, bit off part of the ear of Crisoforo Q. Reyes, 27, March 28, according to police reports.

Benites said the fight started after he had slapped the hand of Reyes’ son when the boy dropped a milkshake, the report said. Benites said Reyes then pushed him twice, the report said.



Benites pleaded guilty to assault in the second degree causing serious bodily injury in the heat of passion, said officials at the Eagle County District Attorney’s Office.

Benites will serve two years probation and pay nearly $5,000 in restitution for the crime.

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AVON, Colorado ” A former executive chef who stole $50,000 from his employer and lost it in a foreign lottery scam was handed a hefty restitution charge and probation Wednesday.

Thomas Jefferson Newsted, 33, was arrested after he stole $35,000 March 4 and another $15,000 six days later from Zacca Za, police said.

Newsted bought the lottery tickets and later got an e-mail from a man in South Africa saying he had won $1.5 million in the lottery, but had to wire $60,000 in fees and taxes to get the prize.

Newsted pleaded guilty to one count felony theft and one count misdemeanor theft, said the Eagle County District Attorney’s Office.

Newsted was ordered to pay $55,725.33 restitution on the felony theft charge. He will serve four years supervised probation on the misdemeanor theft charge.

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado ” The Division of Wildlife removed a cluster of bear traps from Beaver Creek Thursday, due to inactivity in the area.

The traps were installed there four weeks ago, said Randy Hampton of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

“The bear activity has kind of quieted down,” said Hampton.

Since the start of the summer, the agency has relocated at least four bears from the Beaver Creek area to Silt, including a mother bear and two of her cubs.

Since being relocated, the mother and her cubs have been making their way back to Beaver Creek, traveling nearly 70 miles from Silt.

“If we deal with them again we’ll put them down,” said Hampton. “They were literally ripping through the doors of homes.”

Bears are attracted to homes and trash cans because the summer heat has dried out their food supply of flowers and weeds.

“Hopefully people will keep their trash buttoned up,” said Hampton. “We need the public’s help on this.”


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