On Jan. 11, Brett Aprahamian pleaded guilty to three separate counts in two cases, with sentencing set for February. He was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery in Cortez last year.
Aprahamian on Jan. 11 pleaded guilty to two counts in case 23CR210 when appearing in 22nd Judicial District Court for a plea hearing and probation revocation. The first was a count of second-degree motor vehicle theft, and the second was a count of driving under the influence.
When asked by Judge William Furse how he would plead in both counts, Aprahamian said, “I plead guilty.”
In case 23CR238, Aprahamian pleaded guilty to a count of second-degree assault, a Class 4 felony.
Aprahamian said he understood that by pleading guilty, he was giving up his right to a trial.
Attorney Mallory Taub, Aprahamian’s counsel, who appeared via WebEx because of the weather, said she and Aprahamian wished to go forward with immediate sentencing, as she had notified the people about this in December, because of stipulated Department of Corrections sentences.
Instead, Furse ordered a presentence investigation before making a motion to revoke Aprahamian’s probation in case 23CR95. Aprahamian admitted that he hadn’t scheduled an appointment with probation or done a substance-use evaluation.
After the revocation of probation, Furse set all three cases for sentencing on Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.
In Montezeuma County Court on Jan. 18 for sentencing in 23CR106, a prosecutor spoke to Judge Jennilynn Lawrence about giving Aprahamian a consecutive six-month sentence. Lawrence said she thought that was appropriate, and that he could get treatment while in the DOC.
She also spoke of Aprahamian’s “very very lengthy criminal history,” and encouraged him to change his choices after he was out of the DOC.
“Whether you do or not is truly your own personal choice,” Lawrence said, imposing a 180-day sentence for 23CR106.
Aprahamian will receive sentencing in the other three cases on Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.
Aprahamian was arrested Sept. 26 in Cortez after allegedly robbing Jacob Begley at knifepoint near the Aneth Lodge. He then took an unlocked car and led police on a chase before crashing into a police car on East Empire Street.
