GUILTY CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, found deceased, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020* #2

[Niner]

Friday, August 26th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial set to begin on 10/4/22. (thru 11/4/22) all @ 8:30a
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 thru 11/8/21 & 11/17/21 thru 2/8/21 & thru 5/3/22 reference post #153 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-8
5/12/22 Update: Attorney James Merson last week asked Judge Timothy Kerns for a Bergurud hearing to determine if there was sufficient conflict requiring defendant Steve Pankey to seek a new attorney or represent himself. Merson then said issues over the past month led him to request the hearing but didn’t go into further detail about the issues. Following a closed hearing Thursday, Pankey’s court-appointed attorneys, Merson & Eric Zale, were dismissed. The dismissal is the third departure of Pankey’s defense teams. 5/18/22 update: Two attorneys—Jessica Brazil & Peter Harris have been appointed to represent Pankey.
6/3/22 Update: Pankey appeared in court Friday afternoon with two newly appointed attorneys. Brazil said they’re working diligently to review the substantial amount of evidence in the case but weren’t ready to proceed. She requested a due date of July 15 to file motions, to get the maximum amount of time to review the evidence. A full-day motions hearing is scheduled for 9am 8/12/22 & 8/26 & pretrial readiness conference hearing on 9/20 & trial set to begin on 10/4/22 thru 11/4/22.
8/5/22 Update: Motions hearing on 8/12/22 has been cancelled. Next motions hearing on 8/26/22.

 

[Niner]

Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
9/9/22
1:30 PM 3Hr IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

9/14/22
1:30 PM 3Hr IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

9/20/22
8:15 AM 30M IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Pre-Trial Readiness Conference D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

to

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11


link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 26, 2022

Prosecutors push for admitting evidence in Jonelle Matthews case not allowed in first trial as defense points to new alternate suspect

Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns on Friday ruled on motions regarding alternate suspects and evidence to be allowed at trial, setting future hearings to tie up the loose ends before the trial&#821…

www.greeleytribune.com

A motions hearing Friday in the case against Steve Pankey for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews gave a glimpse of how the second trial may differ from the first.

[...]

Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns on Friday ruled on motions regarding alternate suspects and evidence to be allowed at trial, setting future hearings to tie up the loose ends before the trial’s start.

Donald Friedel, whom the defense plans to introduce as an alternate suspect in the case, was considered a suspect in the 1990s, according to defense attorney Peter Harris. Friedel committed sex offenses against people around the same age of Jonelle and was found with child *advertiser censored* that contained a news clipping about Jonelle, Harris said.

[...]

The defense also plans to reintroduce Norris Drake as an alternate suspect. Drake had visited his mother’s house across the street from the Matthews’ home the night Jonelle was kidnapped. Drake, the subject of police investigation in 1989, was also said to have had an interest in young girls.

Weld County Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller said prosecutors would intend to level the playing field by introducing evidence withheld in the previous trial, including Pankey’s digital device history indicating he viewed *advertiser censored* at the same time he made searches about Jonelle in late July 2019, after her remains were found. Pankey also gave a love note to a high school student where he worked as a janitor and was accused of rape by a member of the Sunny View Church of the Nazarene, where Pankey and the Matthews had both gone to church.

[...]

Deputy District Attorney Lacy Wells argued the rape accusation is relevant to include as it explains the motive. After the church member accused Pankey, his reputation was damaged and he was kicked out of the church. ...

Prosecutors also said Jonelle and the church member had the same hair color and were both driven out to a rural part of the county before they were attacked.

Defense attorney Jessica Brazil called the idea “a stretch,” adding she would respond in writing within seven days.

A jailhouse informant may come into play in the second trial, as a former Weld County Jail inmate who’s now in the state Department of Corrections came forward with information in the case. Brazil indicated concerns about the informant’s reliability, noting he’s brought evidence against five or six people.

[...]

Additional motions hearings are set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and Sept. 14 in Weld District Court. The pre-trial readiness conference is set for Sept. 20, with the trial set to begin Oct. 4.

 

[Niner]

Friday, Sept. 9th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial set to begin on 10/4/22. (thru 11/4/22) all @ 8:30a
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 thru 11/8/21 & 11/17/21 thru 2/8/21 & thru 6/3/22 reference post #161 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-9
8/5/22 Update: Motions hearing on 8/12/22 has been cancelled. Next motions hearing on 8/26/22. 8/26/22 Update: Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns on Friday ruled on motions regarding alternate suspects & evidence to be allowed at trial, setting future hearings to tie up the loose ends before the trial’s start. Donald Friedel, whom the defense plans to introduce as an alternate suspect in the case, was considered a suspect in the 1990s & the defense also plans to reintroduce Norris Drake as an alternate suspect. Weld County Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller said prosecutors would intend to level the playing field by introducing evidence withheld in the previous trial, including Pankey’s digital device history indicating he viewed *advertiser censored* at the same time he made searches about Jonelle in late July 2019, after her remains were found. Next motions hearing on 9/9/22 & 9/14/22, pretrial readiness conference hearing on 9/20/22.

 

[Niner]

Not finding any articles on the hearing - anyone??

Looks like the vacated the hearing on 9/14 & moved it to 9/16 & vacated the 9/20 hearing.


Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
9/16/22
9:00 AM 3Hr IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

thru

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

 

[PommyMommy]

Not finding any articles on the hearing - anyone??

Looks like the vacated the hearing on 9/14 & moved it to 9/16 & vacated the 9/20 hearing.


Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
9/16/22
9:00 AM 3Hr IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Motions Hearing D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

thru

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

I didn't find anything either, Niner.

 

[Niner]

Friday, Sept. 16th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial set to begin on 10/4/22. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/30/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-3) 10/6/21-10/8/21 & Trial (Day 1-15) 10/12/21-11/2/21 & Jury deliberations (Day 3/Trial Day 19) 11/4/21 thru 11/8/21 & 11/17/21 thru 2/8/21 & thru 8/5/22 reference post #164 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-9
8/26/22 Update: Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns on Friday ruled on motions regarding alternate suspects & evidence to be allowed at trial, setting future hearings to tie up the loose ends before the trial’s start. Donald Friedel, whom the defense plans to introduce as an alternate suspect in the case, was considered a suspect in the 1990s & the defense also plans to reintroduce Norris Drake as an alternate suspect. Weld County Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller said prosecutors would intend to level the playing field by introducing evidence withheld in the previous trial, including Pankey’s digital device history indicating he viewed *advertiser censored* at the same time he made searches about Jonelle in late July 2019, after her remains were found. Next motions hearing on 9/9/22 & 9/14/22, pretrial readiness conference hearing on 9/20/22.
9/9/22 Update: Motions hearing on 9/14/22 & trial readiness hearing on 9/20/22 have been vacated. Next motions hearing on 9/16/22.

 

[Niner]

Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
9/29/22
1:00 PM 30M VIRTUAL PANKEY, STEVEN Status Conference D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

thru

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

 

[Niner]

Well this is interesting... or not!
The court site has taken off his trial dates from 10/4 to 11/4/22. All it shows now is the status conference hearing on 9/29/22.

And I can not find anything over here about a rescheduling of trial. Anyone in the U.S. find anything? Something must have happened at the motions hearing 9/16.

TIA if anyone can find something!

 

[PommyMommy]

This is the most recent article I see, @Niner. And, court site shows the same for me. I guess we wait.

SEP 13, 2022

Prosecutors seek to introduce all prior testimony by Steve Pankey in second trial for 1984 kidnapping, murder

As final preparations are underway for a second trial of the 71-year-old Idaho man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in 1984, prosecutors plan to introduce all statem…

www.reporterherald.com

As final preparations are underway for a second trial of the 71-year-old Idaho man accused of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in 1984, prosecutors plan to introduce all statements the defendant made in his first trial.

Steve Pankey’s defense attorneys, who appeared with him Friday for a motions hearing, said they plan to file a motion to stop the broad introduction of Pankey’s prior statements. Defense attorney Jessica Brazil said she’s never had everything a defendant said in the first trial admitted in a second trial.

Judge Timothy Kerns cited case law regarding the issue, acknowledging one case that may partially support Brazil’s argument, but indicated he’s not inclined to redact prior statements made to a jury.

[...]

The court also revisited matters discussed at a prior hearing, including what level of detail to allow in discussing a rape accusation brought against Pankey by a member of the Sunny View Church of the Nazarene, attended by Pankey and the Matthews family. Pankey was kicked out of the church and fired from his job, later accusing people involved with the fallout for Jonelle’s disappearance.

Brazil said she still objected to introducing the matter but believed it could be introduced in a way that sanitizes the charges and notes the charges were dismissed.

Wells argued certain facts of the alleged assault are relevant, including that Pankey picked up the victim and took her out east of Greeley — where Jonelle’s remains were found in July 2019. She previously also noted Jonelle and the church member had the same hair color.

[...]

A motions hearing set for Wednesday was rescheduled to 9 a.m. Friday. The trial starts next month.

Docket Search | Colorado Judicial Branch

www.courts.state.co.us

9/29/22 1:00 PM​

30M​

VIRTUAL​

PANKEY, STEVEN​

Status Conference​

D622020CR1866​

Weld County​

Division 11

 

[Niner]

Thank you for the article. I had his last hearing on 9/16, but that article is dated before than. And it mentions trial was scheduled on Friday, but that date is 9/30, not what the court site has as 9/29. And the trial has been deleted from the court site.

hmmm.... yes confused! LOL!

edited to add - I shall go with what the court site says.

 

[casesensitive]

"Wells argued certain facts of the alleged assault are relevant, including that Pankey picked up the victim and took her out east of Greeley — where Jonelle’s remains were found in July 2019. She previously also noted Jonelle and the church member had the same hair color."

I think prosecutor Wells weakened the impact of evidence by arguing that the hair colour of the rape victim matched the hair colour of the murder victim. I hope that this lame attempt at making a connection between the two victims is ignored by the judge, and will never be heard by a jury.

 

[Niner]

Well I do see the jury trial dates are back on the court site - starting 10/4/22 to 11/4/22.

 

[Niner]

Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
9/29/22
1:00 PM 30M VIRTUAL PANKEY, STEVEN Status Conference D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

thru

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

 

[Niner]

Thursday, Sept. 29th:
*Status Conference Hearing-Virtual (@ 1pm MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 11/2/21. Have 12 jurors & 3 alternates. 10/14/21: Judge excuses a juror for inattentive behavior. Now 12 jurors & 2 alternates. Jury selection from 10/7/21 to 10/8/21. 11/2/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 hours. 11/3/21: Jurors deliberated for ~7 ½ hours. 11/4/21: Jurors deliberated for ~5 ½ hours. Total deliberations: 18 hours. Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial et to begin on 10/4/22. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 8/26/22 reference post #167 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-9
9/9/22 Update: Motions hearing on 9/14/22 & trial readiness hearing on 9/20/22 have been vacated. Next motions hearing on 9/16/22.
9/16/22 Update: Prosecutors plan to introduce all statements the defendant made in his first trial. Pankey’s defense attorneys, who appeared with him Friday for a motions hearing, said they plan to file a motion to stop the broad introduction of Pankey’s prior statements. Defense attorney Jessica Brazil said she’s never had everything a defendant said in the first trial admitted in a second trial. Judge Timothy Kerns cited case law regarding the issue, acknowledging one case that may partially support Brazil’s argument, but indicated he’s not inclined to redact prior statements made to a jury. The court also revisited matters discussed at a prior hearing, including what level of detail to allow in discussing a rape accusation brought against Pankey by a member of the Sunny View Church of the Nazarene. Next status conference virtual hearing on 9/29/22.

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 28, 2022

‘Doing it all with a smile all the while’: Weld County DA’s victim advocate recognized by state council

The Colorado District Attorney’s Council named Erma Archibeque as the victim advocate of the year during the council’s annual fall conference Sept. 11-14, according to the Weld County Distric…

www.greeleytribune.com

A Weld County District Attorney’s victim advocate received statewide recognition for her work on some of the highest-profile cases in the community.

The Colorado District Attorney’s Council named Erma Archibeque as the victim advocate of the year during the council’s annual fall conference Sept. 11-14, according to the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.

[...]

Archibeque has worked as an advocate for crime victims and witnesses in many high-profile and egregious cases, especially in the past year, the district attorney’s office said. Her award is in recognition of her involvement in two of the biggest trials in Weld County: Steve Pankey and Kevin Eastman.

“This year Erma was responsible for the longest criminal trial in Weld County history,” Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said in the video about the Pankey trial. “She was responsible for all the witnesses in that 35-year-old case of Jonelle Matthews.”

[...]

“Not only are you managing all of the witnesses but all of the support system for the victim and the victim’s family and the victim’s friends who came to the courtroom on a daily basis,” Rourke said.

[...]

 

[Niner]

Looks like trial is still a go!

Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
10/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/5/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/6/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/7/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/10/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/11/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/12/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/13/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/14/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/17/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/18/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/19/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/20/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/21/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/24/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/25/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/26/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/27/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/28/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

10/31/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

11/1/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

11/2/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

11/3/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11

11/4/22
8:30 AM 1D IN PERSON PANKEY, STEVEN Jury Trial D622020CR1866 Weld County Division 11


link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

 

[Niner]

Weld judge denies change of venue in Steve Pankey trial

Steve Pankey, 71, appeared virtually before Judge Timothy Kerns for a status conference Thursday afternoon addressing motions on a change of venue for the trial and questions for selecting the jury…

www.greeleytribune.com

Sept. 30, 2022

Oh shoot - can't read the article = need a subscription...

 

[PommyMommy]

Weld judge denies change of venue in Steve Pankey trial

Steve Pankey, 71, appeared virtually before Judge Timothy Kerns for a status conference Thursday afternoon addressing motions on a change of venue for the trial and questions for selecting the jury…

www.greeleytribune.com

Sept. 30, 2022

Oh shoot - can't read the article = need a subscription...

Summary of main points (as per the rules for paywalled articles):

• Pankey appeared virtually for a status conference Thursday addressing motions on a change of venue and questions for the jury.
• The judge denied change of venue since there were no issues in finding a fair and impartial jury for the last trial.
• Jury selection begins 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
• The judge will rule on the details of the questionnaire once he reviews the completed material.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, October 4th:
*Trial set to begins with Jury Selection (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial set to begin on 10/4/22 with jury selection. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/9/22 reference post #175 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eeley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-9
9/16/22 Update: Prosecutors plan to introduce all statements the defendant made in his first trial. Pankey’s defense attorneys, who appeared with him Friday for a motions hearing, said they plan to file a motion to stop the broad introduction of Pankey’s prior statements. Defense attorney Jessica Brazil said she’s never had everything a defendant said in the first trial admitted in a second trial. Judge Timothy Kerns cited case law regarding the issue, acknowledging one case that may partially support Brazil’s argument, but indicated he’s not inclined to redact prior statements made to a jury. The court also revisited matters discussed at a prior hearing, including what level of detail to allow in discussing a rape accusation brought against Pankey by a member of the Sunny View Church of the Nazarene. Next status conference virtual hearing on 9/29/22.
9/29/22 Update: Pankey appeared virtually for a status conference Thursday addressing motions on a change of venue & questions for the jury. The judge denied change of venue since there were no issues in finding a fair & impartial jury for the last trial. Jury selection begins 8:30am Tuesday, 10/4/22. The judge will rule on the details of the questionnaire once he reviews the completed material.