All this for a momma cat. I am 65 and I run Bubastis Cat Sanctuary in Longmont. On Oct 3rd, I was attacked on my front porch by three younger strangers. I had my roommate call the police, and instead of arresting them, they arrested me. I spent three days in Boulder Co jail with insane people awaiting beds in an asylum and convicted criminals. No phone call. No Miranda rights. The Public Defender tells me that I make 128 dollars too much per month to quality for a lawyer.
Oct 2nd, I had gone to the mailbox when I saw that Bela, the brown Chihuahua who lives five houses down the street, was standing in the street. Again. I walked toward his house and he saw me. He walked back toward his house, as I was hoping he would. When I got there, an elderly woman was sitting on the porch. I said “Is this your dog?” Without getting up, she just said “yeah.” “Well, he gets out in the street a lot. I’ve seen dogs hit on this street.” I’m trying to herd Bela toward their door and the woman rises and helps. Across the street is this female bodybuilder walking a Pitbull on a heavy leash. She sees our little comedy and laughs; I just shrug. We almost have the elusive Bela to the front porch when an old man comes out and a white Chihuahua slips out past him and joins Bela. “Forgive me for trespassing, we’re just trying to get the dogs back inside.” Now they are both yelling at the dogs who see the Pitbull across the street and bolt for it, barking like crazy. The owner is struggling to restrain the Pitbull, which is reacting to the tiny Chihuahuas. I run between them, get the Chihuahuas to run back toward their house, all the way up the porch, and as they start to go inside, the old man throws something at them, causing one of them to yelp loudly in pain. I couldn’t see what he threw. I found out later was just a hat. At this point I was standing in their neighbors’ driveway. I yelled “Don’t you hurt that dog!” and that pissed him off. He had to be in his late seventies, white hair and beard, and he starts posturing and yelling likes he want to fight me. Suddenly that little grey and white cat I’ve seen there before comes up to me. I picked her up in my arms. He said “Go ahead, take her.” I don’t know why I picked her up; maybe because these people were abusing their animals. I took her home, gave her tuna, and she settled right in. I called Longmont Animal Control, and asked them to send an officer down as I wanted to explain the situation, have them talk to these people about letting those dogs wander the street, examine the dogs for injuries, and let them know about the cat. Someone took all the information, but no one ever came.
The next morning, I was just waking up, lying in bed petting her, and I noticed that she was definitely lactating, which likely meant she had kittens somewhere. I was surprised because she was so young, she must have gotten pregnant at the first opportunity. Suddenly there was a banging on the front door. I thought it might be animal control. I dressed and went to the window, with the dogs barking up a storm. There were two women and a man. One woman was holding a grey and white kitten that looked just like her mother but with longer hair. The noise of the dogs made it impossible to talk, so I went outside, closed the door behind me and sat down on the steps. One of the women immediately went berserk, demanding the return of the cat. I tried to calmly explain what had happened yesterday. I told her that I realized that she was a nursing mother, and we needed to reunite her with the kitten right away, but I told her I wanted Animal Control to speak to everyone first. Then I asked “Where are the other kittens?” That really pissed her off, she started screaming, I stood up, the woman holding the kitten backed up, and the man got right in my face and said “I’ll fcking kill you.” Then next thing I remember, I had tumbled over toward the bottom of the driveway and lost my glasses. I retrieved them, and then resumed defending myself from the woman and the man. It must have looked funny as hell because for all the wild, sincere swings, I never hit them and they never hit me. The whole melee could not have lasted more than thirty seconds. Paul steps outside in his boxers holding his phone. “Call the police, these people attacked me!” They stopped attacking me and Paul and I retreated inside. The police arrived. I came outside, sat down on the porch, and related the whole story, my heart still racing. Went back inside and got my Driver’s License and gave it to the first officer, who was very nice. More units arrived. Some officers talked to people down the street at the Chihuahua house, and others talked to my neighbors across the street who have cameras. They showed them the footage, and based on that, I was arrested. I don’t even know if any of my attackers were arrested. One cop said they examined the dogs and they are fine. The cop who put me in cuffs said “You’ve been cooperative and very cordial.” Sitting in the back of the squad car, I saw an officer taking the momma cat back down the street, so she has been reunited with her kitten. I was taken to Boulder County jail, where I was booked, photographed, fingerprinted, my clothes were taken and I had to wear a red prison uniform.
Charges:
18-9-111(1)(a) Harassment-Strikes/shoves/kicks-(M1)
18-2-101(6) Criminal Attempt to Commit Class 1 or 2 Misdemeanor (M2) x2
18-3-204(1)(a) 3rd degree assault-(M1) x2
At my court appearing, the judge gave me an Arguello Advisement:
"Purpose: To protect a defendant's right to counsel by confirming a valid waiver before they can represent themselves.
How much education have you had?
“Seven years of college.”
Have you had any legal training?
“No.”
Do you understand you have the right to counsel?
"Yes"
Do you understand the charges, possible penalties, and rules of evidence/procedure?
"No."
Are you aware of the dangers/disadvantages of self-representation?
"Yes."
Do you wish to proceed without an attorney?
"What choice do I have? I would LOVE to have an attorney."
The judge entered a plea of not guilty. All with me having no legal counsel.
I should have had an attorney to help me with these questions. I should have had an attorney present when I was interviewed by the DA.
