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Ex-girlfriend helps bust West Slope burglary ring?

Pete Fowler
Glenwood Springs Correspondent
Vail, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado ” A disgruntled ex-girlfriend appears to be a key factor leading to a series of arrests in a string of recent burglaries.

Authorities said five adult suspects and two juveniles arrested in late November were likely connected to a string of around 38 burglaries at businesses in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Garfield County since July. However, two of the individuals also were charged with burglaries in 2006.

“It’s definitely one of the larger ongoing crime-spree issues that we’ve had in quite some time and I’m really really pleased to see that the arrests were made, and hopefully we’ve got several strong cases to send the message to folks that this is not a good way to make your weekend play money in this town,” said Glenwood Springs Police Chief Terry Wilson.



According to an arrest affidavit, suspect David Iuele’s ex-girlfriend had complained about Iuele’s harassing phone calls. He allegedly was upset that the woman might contact law enforcement with information about the burglaries.

She gave detectives information about a stolen safe from the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves and implicated Iuele, 19, and William Riddle, 18, in the crime, leading to their arrests on Nov. 23.

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Iuele allegedly left messages on her voice mail saying things like, “You’re an accomplice, too. We also did use your car. … You don’t need to be talking (expletive) about me and if you do it, it ain’t going to be too good for you either,” according to detectives.

The ex-girlfriend identified the correct type of safe that was taken from the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves, an affidavit says, and detectives also obtained information from her friends.

During an interview at the Glenwood Springs Police Department after his arrest, Iuele admitted his involvement in some of the crimes and “provided detailed information” about numerous burglaries that led to arrest warrants for Bradley Guyon, 19; Sean Egan; 19, Khory Gagner, 18; and three juveniles, according to arrest affidavits.

A detective wrote that Iuele provided information that hadn’t been released to the public, and admitted not knowing about certain burglaries, both of which helped establish his credibility.

Someone other than Iuele also implicated Egan in a motor vehicle theft and high-speed chase with an allegedly stolen white Chevrolet Suburban in New Castle on the night of Nov. 3, according to an arrest affidavit.

The District Attorney’s Office filed 35 charges against Guyon, including second-degree burglary and theft charges, some alleging his involvement in 2006 burglaries at the Ocean Pearl, West Glenwood Mini-Golf and Xpresso. Egan faces 33 similar charges including an aggravated motor vehicle theft and a vehicular eluding charge. He also was accused of the same 2006 burglaries.

Riddle faces 13 burglary-related charges. Iuele faces nine burglary-related charges. Gagner faces two counts of second-degree burglary and two misdemeanor counts of theft for his alleged involvement in burglaries at the Full Moon Saloon and Dos Gringos in Carbondale.

Deputy District Attorney Tony Hershey, who handles juvenile cases, said multiple burglary and theft charges have been filed against one juvenile and will be filed against another soon.

He said that the way the law is set up, the juveniles are getting breaks by committing the crimes at 17 compared to if they had waited until they were 18.

“The most punishment you can get in juvenile court is two years (in the Department of Corrections,)” he said, noting the possible maximum sentences for adults for the same crimes are much higher.


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