District Attorney - Eighth Judicial District - Colorado

08/03/2026

Applications for 2027 funding through the Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement Board are now open.

This funding is provided by a Colorado Statute that created a mechanism to fund programming and services for crime victims and to assist law enforcement.

Agencies interested can find more information at the link below: https://www.larimer.org/da/vicwit/vale

07/02/2026

Today, Shannon O'Reilly was sentenced to 14 years in the Department of Corrections for the Distribution of Fentanyl, under 4 grams, Causing Death, a class one drug felony. The prosecution team secured her plea agreement in April 2026.

In April 2025, Loveland Police officers responded to a residence for a welfare check and found a man who had died from a fentanyl overdose. An investigation began into who had sold the victim the fentanyl that had killed him. Eventually, it was determined that Shannon O’Reilly had sold the victim fentanyl powder.

Ms. O’Reilly had several other previous drug charges and received many different sentences, all trying to address her addiction issues. She had previously been accepted into the Drug Court program, but absconded and never started the program.

“This tragedy has left a lasting impact on our community and, most importantly, on Eugene’s loved ones,” said Lieutenant Heather Moore of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Loveland Police Department. “While nothing can undo such a devastating loss, the dedicated work of our investigators, the steadfast commitment of the District Attorney’s Office, and Judge Cure’s thoughtful consideration of this case reflect a collective commitment to holding those responsible accountable. We hope today’s sentencing sends a clear message to anyone who chooses to distribute these deadly substances: there are serious consequences for the lives they destroy.”

"Fentanyl has taken far too many lives in our community,” said District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin. “We remain committed to supporting those battling addiction with the resources they need, but addiction is not an excuse to kill someone else struggling. We will continue to hold those dealing deadly fentanyl fully accountable and we hope this result will provide a sense of closure for the family, and our thoughts are with them."

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available:
SummitStone Health Partners: 970-494-4200
Colorado Opioid Synergy Larimer & Weld (CO-SLAW): 1-844-944-7529
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-487-4889
Connect Effect Colorado: www.connecteffectc.org/parents
Facing Fentanyl National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day August 21 www.facingfentanylnow.org

06/23/2026

If you believe you are a victim, please contact Fort Collins Police Services.

The following content may be triggering to some audiences.

Press Release: S*x Assault Suspect Arrested; Police Seeking Additional Victims

On Monday, June 22, 2026, Fort Collins Police Services arrested Tristan Blackwell (DOB: 11/21/1995) for multiple charges of felony s*xual assault. After investigating reports from two separate victims involving this suspect, police are concerned that other victims may exist.

Blackwell was booked into the Larimer County Jail on the following charges:
· Class 3 Felony - S*xual Assault (1 counts)
· Class 4 Felony – 2nd Degree Assault (1 count)
· Class 4 Felony - S*xual Assault (1 counts)
· Crime of Violence enhancement (1 count)

The court set a $50,000 cash bond for him on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

A booking photo is attached, courtesy of the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. Based on details of the investigation, detectives are concerned there may be additional victims. Anyone with information about these or other incidents is asked to contact the police tip line at (970) 416-2825. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can contact Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org.

Charges are merely an accusation by law enforcement and all suspects must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

06/18/2026

Today, our office filed a motion to dismiss the Arson charge in the case of People vs. Jason Alexander Hobby (24CR1337). The other charges against Mr. Hobby are still pending, and the case will continue through the justice process. Legally, we are limited in what we can share about the open counts, as Mr. Hobby is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.

As our office and law enforcement have prepared this case for trial, additional investigation was completed that shed new light on the initial circumstantial evidence that led to Mr. Hobby’s arrest on the Arson charge and directly contradicts the original theory of the case. This additional evidence indicates Mr. Hobby could not have started the Alexander Mountain Fire.

We join in the significant disappointment of our community that the individual responsible for setting the fire remains unknown, and accountability for their losses has not yet come. Wildfires have been a frequent and traumatic threat to our community, and all resources to determine the identity of the person who started the fire have been expended. Our office has worked closely with the lead detective, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Forest Service to determine if any investigative steps remain for further investigation. At this time, all follow-up investigatory avenues regarding the Arson charge against Mr. Hobby have been exhausted, and the Arson charge cannot proceed due to the newly discovered evidence.

As with most investigations of this scale and complexity, the investigation and review of evidence has continued long after the initial incident occurred. The investigation into the Alexander Mountain Fire is vast, spanning hundreds of witnesses, hundreds of police reports, more than a terabyte of digital evidence, multiple forensic evidence reports, and hundreds of hours of body-worn camera videos. As the investigation continued, evidence emerged that directly contradicted original theories that Jason Hobby had started or maintained the Alexander Mountain Fire.

It would be unethical for a District Attorney’s Office to pursue a prosecution in which they did not believe the correct person was charged. In this case, the District Attorney’s Office cannot proceed on the Arson charge against Mr. Hobby because evidence related to Mr. Hobby’s whereabouts, his potential alibi, access to the fire origin location, and digital evidence from his cell phone all provide direct evidence that he is unlikely to have started the Alexander Mountain Fire.

06/18/2026

An unbelievable and tragic loss. Our hearts go out to the families and everyone at the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

Larimer County, we’re heartbroken to share information about a sudden and tragic loss within our agency.

On June 16, an LCSO Deputy, Sergeant, and Sergeant’s family member were vacationing together on a motorcycle trip. The men were traveling on a North Idaho scenic highway when a pickup truck attempted to pass another vehicle in a marked no-passing zone. The truck crossed the double yellow centerline and collided with the motorcycles, killing all three riders.

The truck driver was arrested and booked into the Idaho County Jail on three counts of vehicular manslaughter. Idaho State Police are investigating this crash.

Out of respect for their families’ strong desire for privacy, we aren’t identifying the deputies at this time.

There are no good words in a situation like this. Put simply, these were incredible people who dedicated their lives to making Larimer County better every single day. They trained hard, they served well, and they loved life. As we walk the long and winding path of grief alongside their families, our resolve is stronger than ever:

For them, we’ll bring light into dark places.
For them, we’ll stand for good and fight against evil.
For them, we’ll live each day with gratitude and carry their legacy forward.

Rest easy, brothers. We’ve got it from here. 💙

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We’ve gotten several inquiries about how people can help the affected families who lost loved ones. The Colorado Fraternal Order of Police is our only official donor partner and has set up a link for those who wish to support. 100% of proceeds will go to these families: https://givebutter.com/colorado-fop-family-support-fund-lodge4

Be wary of scams - never click links from unknown sources, and do not provide financial information to anyone soliciting it. We will never call, text, or email to ask for donations for this or any other cause.

06/10/2026

Thanks for having us Town of Estes Park Colorado!

In case you didn't know each year, District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin presents to the various city and town councils in our jurisdiction about our work.

We are able to share specific crime data for the city and how it compares to our jurisdiction's crime data overall.

05/28/2026

Today, Ivan Banuelos Gandara was sentenced to 22 years in the Department of Corrections, followed by 10 years of S*x Offender Intensive Supervised Probation. In March, Mr. Gandara pled guilty to Human Trafficking a Minor for S*xual Servitude, a class two felony, and S*xual Exploitation of a Child-Video, a class four felony.

In early 2024, detectives from the Loveland Police Department responded to a report of the s*xual assault of a minor. Eventually, it was determined that the numerous crimes had been committed in unincorporated Larimer County; therefore, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office took over the case and filed charges. The victim, who was 13-years-old at the time, reported that Mr. Gandara had been forcing her to have s*x with him in exchange for money, food, and ma*****na. He also gave her money to send him videos of her with other minors, as well as n**e photos of her.

During the investigation, another minor victim was identified. Both were being s*xually assaulted in exchange for money or other goods by Mr. Gandara, and were 13 years old.

This case was screened with the 8th Judicial District Human Trafficking Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). The Human Trafficking MDT is a group led by the District Attorney’s office and is composed of law enforcement agency partners, victim service professionals, probation, child protective services, and more. The team works to identify potential victims of human trafficking, ensure thorough investigations, connect victims with appropriate resources, and refer cases for criminal charges when appropriate.

“The amount of bravery these victims showed in coming forward cannot be overstated,” said District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin. “I am so grateful to all our partners on our Human Trafficking MDT who helped in the investigation of this case and provided support services to the victims. Human trafficking cases are incredibly complex, and these partnerships enable us to ensure victims are heard and offenders held accountable.”

For more resources on human trafficking and s*xual assault:

Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking
https://combathumantrafficking.org/

National Human Trafficking Hotline
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en

SAVA Center NOCO
https://savacenter.org/

05/15/2026

Today is National Peace Officer Memorial Day, as an end to National Police Week. We are very grateful for the work of our law enforcement partners every day, but on this day, we reflect on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you for all you do in our communities. And especially a thank you to Fort Collins Police Services and Loveland Police Department who allowed us to join your memorial services.

05/15/2026

Anyone with information about these or other incidents is asked to contact the police tip line at (970) 416-2825. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can contact Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org. Additionally, CSU Police Department can be contacted regarding CSU assault investigations at (970) 491-6425.

The following content may be triggering to some audiences.

Press Release: S*x Assault Suspect Arrested; Police Seek Additional Victims

On the afternoon of Thursday, May 14, 2026, Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) arrested Jack Harrison Delcore (DOB 09/15/2006) for multiple charges of felony s*xual assault. After investigating reports from three separate victims involving this suspect, police are concerned that other victims may exist.

Delcore was taken into custody at off-campus housing and booked into the Larimer County Jail on the following charges:
· Class 3 Felony - S*xual Assault (2 counts)
· Class 4 Felony - S*xual Assault (1 count)
· Domestic Violence, with a Felony enhancement (1 count)

Delcore was a student at Colorado State University (CSU) at the time of the assaults. FCPS detectives have worked closely with CSU Police and the Office of Title IX Programs during this investigation.

Based on details of the investigation, detectives are concerned there may be additional victims. Anyone with information about these or other incidents is asked to contact the police tip line at (970) 416-2825. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can contact Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org. Additionally, CSU Police Department can be contacted regarding CSU assault investigations at (970) 491-6425.

Charges are merely an accusation by law enforcement and all suspects must be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

04/30/2026

Today, Shane Bradely Mills was sentenced to 35 years in the Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to Vehicular Homicide- DUI, a class three felony, and two counts of Vehicular Assault-DUI, a class four felony.

On August 15, 2024, the Colorado State Patrol responded to a crash on Highway 34. Upon arrival, they discovered one person outside the vehicle, two people trapped in a vehicle who ultimately had to be extracted, and one person who had fled the scene.

Troopers began searching the area and found Shane Mills hiding behind a tree. He was uncooperative, unsteady on his feet, and had a strong odor of alcohol.

Shane Mills had been traveling eastbound on Highway 34, crossed the center line, and hit another vehicle, containing the three victims, head-on. An 8-pack of beer was found in his vehicle, and a blood test would reveal that his blood alcohol was 0.264, six times greater than the .05 legal limit to drive in the state of Colorado.

Shaylin Crosby, age 21, was pronounced dead on scene, and the remaining two victims were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

The prosecution team secured Mr. Mills’ guilty plea in February to an open sentencing range on all counts. The prosecution team argued for the maximum sentence, 48 years, asking that all three counts run consecutively to separately account for the individual harm to each victim.

During the sentencing, several of Shaylin’s friends and family spoke to the Court to highlight her kindness, creativity, and love for everyone in her life. They showed photos, videos, and included original songs written and performed by Shaylin to illustrate the life that was taken by Mr. Mills’ actions.

“Driving while under the influence kills members of our community, and we will work tirelessly to hold these offenders accountable,” said District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin. “Last year, Driving Under the Influence was the most charged offense in our jurisdiction. The loss of Shaylin Crosby and the physical and emotional trauma inflicted on the surviving victims were due to the knowing decision of Mr. Mills to get behind the wheel while significantly intoxicated, and it was completely avoidable. I am proud of our team for holding Mr. Mills accountable and hope that the family can find some closure in this outcome.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
MADD Coloradohttps://madd.org/colorado/

No DUI NoCo
https://noduicolorado.org/resources/

Responsibility.org
https://www.responsibility.org/end-impaired-driving/