“Hooligans” Behind Bars – DA Bruce Brown

Cell Closes on 2018 Reynolds Case

The following Media Advisory was released by Public Information Officer John Bryan with Colorado Fifth Judicial District Attorney Bruce Brown’s office on Friday, January 10, 2020. It is printed here in its entirety:

TJ Reynolds, 21, was sentenced yesterday to 6.5 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections (DoC) for a May 1, 2018, assault with a firearm that ended only when his accomplice brother was shot. On that date, the Reynolds brothers had been driving around their rural neighborhood, driving recklessly, spinning out and kicking up rocks and dirt at a nearby residence driveway just off of Highway 91.  A male neighbor followed the brothers to their residence, scolding them for driving so carelessly and unsafely in the neighborhood.

Minutes later, the brothers, TJ and Cody went to the neighbor’s house armed—wanting to confront the man.  TJ Reynolds directed obscenity towards the victim neighbor who told TJ not to threaten him. Instead, Cody Reynolds, 27, drew a handgun saying, “This is a threat”,  but in self-defense the innocent neighbor drew his concealed weapon first and shot Cody before he could do any harm.  Cody suffered a single bullet wound to the torso.

The neighbor also managed to disarm Cody, then went inside his home to alert authorities about the incident and summon medical assistance for Cody.  When he came back outside, the brothers had fled back to their home after hitching a ride with strangers, where EMS and Law Enforcement eventually arrived, finding wounded Cody laying on the front porch.

Fresh tracks can be seen in the Lake County High School parking lot as the next rounds of winter storms roll across the tallest peak in Colorado. Photo: Leadville Today

In separate criminal cases, both TJ and Cody ultimately entered guilty pleas.  On Jan. 2, 2020, Cody Reynolds was sentenced to 13 years in prison, for the offense of 1st Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  Although TJ did not shoot at the neighbor, he also pleaded guilty on July 26, 2019, to the charge of Second Degree Assault with a deadly weapon, a Class Four Felony, as he acted as an accomplice in threats against the neighbor and joined his brother in going to confront him, knowing his brother was armed with a firearm.  Stemming from two other cases, TJ was also sentenced to one year prison (Criminal Mischief–$1K-$5K) and one year in jail (DUI)—those sentences will run concurrently with the 6.5 years DoC sentence.

“These two hooligans acted foolishly and threatened someone who was just trying to keep the neighborhood peace.  Now they are going to spend a lengthy period in prison where they can’t harm others,” said Bruce Brown, 5th Judicial District Attorney.

Trooper Tips: Older Drivers

By Master Trooper Gary Cutler

Driving is a feeling of freedom you get when you’re able to just travel wherever you wish.  But, there may come a point in time when either you or someone close to you must make the decision to put the keys away and find another way to commute.

Talking to an older person about their driving can be difficult and is often delayed until their driving is to a point of being dangerous.  But if delayed too long, it can be a hesitation that can turn fatal.

I speak from personal experience when I lost my grandmother in a crash.  The signs were there prior to the fatal crash, but we failed to see them as a serious enough problem and hesitated in having her stop driving.  It started with a few scratches here and there on the car, and pulling into the garage a little too far.  Perhaps, if we had acted upon those signs we may have had her around longer.

Years later when another driving situation approached my family, we didn’t hesitate to take action.  My father began to show signs of having trouble driving due to early-onset dementia and we took steps to keep him from driving and possibly hurting himself or someone else.  A problem you may face is the older driver believing they are driving fine, when in fact you are seeing dangerous problems.  I won’t tell you it was easy to have the conversation.  My father was upset with us for a while, but I would do it again to make sure it keeps everyone safe.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that in 2018, 19% of all fatal crashes were caused by drivers 65 years and older.  Now this doesn’t mean just because you turn 65 you should have your driver’s license taken from you.  Far from it, it just means it’s time to start being aware of any changes.  For a start, keep track of eyesight, physical fitness, and reflexes.

The New Year has seen winter driving conditions in downtown Leadville and along the Highways. Photo: Leadville Today

If you are an older person, try to avoid driving in bad weather, driving at dusk or night, where it may be harder to see things, or if bright lights have started to bother your eyes.  Other ways to make sure you are being safe is to give yourself more distance between cars and to constantly scan the road ahead.  Look to ways you can extend your driving by being aware of any changes that could be dangerous on the roadways for you and others by adjusting those problems as they arise.

For family members with aging relatives, plan ahead so when the time comes everyone involved knows what needs to be done.  Have a discussion with family members about what should be done, and how everyone should respond when and if the time comes.

Be sensitive to ways you can preserve the older driver’s self-respect.  Present concerns in non-threatening terms.  Use “I” messages rather than “You” messages.  Focus on a plan that maximizes community safety and try to look for ways that can put into place that allow the older person to continue to drive if possible by changing habits. Don’t wait to take steps that could save lives.  For more information on driving for the elderly visit www.nhtsa.gov. As always, safe travels!

Leadville Today columnist Trooper Gary Cutler is the Public Information Officer for the Colorado State Patrol. A Public Information Officer is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer media questions.