Video evidence confirmed
Courtroom illustration by Jason Van Tatenhove ~ Colorado Switchblade
(original article posted on the Colorado Switchblade)
Fort Collins, Colorado.
On Thursday, September 23, a status conference in the Larimer County Justice Court for defendant Jacobo Wright Mendoza, also known to locals as 'Kovo.'
Mendoza faces multiple felony counts stemming from the alleged attempted kidnapping and murder of a 16-year-old girl who escaped from his vehicle in Glen Haven.
Mendoza is currently being held in the Larimer County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond, which, his court-appointed attorney Daniel Jasinski argued, posed a hardship for Mendoza's family to pay. Jasinski stated that if Mendoza had a reduced bond, he would reside at a brother's home in Windsor and "would be under the most extensive monitoring the court can have." He added any bond reduction would be appreciated and said, "there is every incentive in the world for Mr. Mendoza to comply. The entire family's life savings would be on the line."
The prosecuting attorney for the State of Colorado, Laura Hinojos, opposed a reduced bond. "A second victim does not understand why now there's a difference. He feels the first bond was appropriate."
Judge Laurie Dean denied the motion to reduce Mendoza's bond.
Courtroom illustration by Jason Van Tatenhove ~ Colorado Switchblade
In other case developments, Hinojos stated that the video evidence found on Mendoza's phone and other devices contained sexual content, including several items of "inappropriate sexual kissing and touching." Multiple pieces of electronic and video equipment had been removed from Mendoza's place of business, The Escape Room in Estes Park, and/or his Estes Valley community residence.
During the proceedings, the prosecutor quoted Mendoza as saying, "What they found on my cell phone will get me killed."
Mendoza's next court appearance is scheduled for November 8, at 9:30 a.m. at the Larimer County Justice Center.