A Cortez woman arrested on May 7 on suspicion of theft, identity theft, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor missed her plea hearing Tuesday and will face a rescheduled hearing in May.
Rayah Chowen, who had two warrants in La Plata and Montezuma counties at the time of her arrest, was set to appear in Montezuma County Court from an out-of-state inpatient treatment center via Webex. However, her attorney cited potential livestream issues at the treatment center.
Chowen had been transported to South Carolina for treatment in September. The plea hearing date had been delayed to reach a global resolution with her cases in Montezuma and La Plata counties. Judge Ian MacLaren said he would accept the request “one more time.”
MacLaren set Chowen’s plea hearing for Monday, May 20, at 1:30 p.m. She also has a pretrial readiness hearing on May 22 and a jury trial scheduled for June 16-18 in the 22nd Judicial District Court.
Chowen was arrested May 7 on suspicion of identity theft, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and theft of $300 to $1,000 after police responded to a report of thefts from two vehicles on Navajo Street. The missing items included a Chanel wallet valued at $200, two bank cards, a debit card, an ID, insurance cards, and $80 in cash.
The debit card was used at Dollar General for $104.62, and an employee described a woman with a tattoo over her right eye featuring Roman numerals and a rose. Surveillance footage at Maverik Gas Station and LivWell recorded a woman matching that description, identified as Chowen, trying to use the card. The card had also been used at Hibbett Sports the day before, where employees described Chowen’s eye tattoo and two others who were with her.
Officers also visited High View Smoke Shop, Cloud 970 Vapor, and Dairy Queen. Chowen was located May 7 at National 9 Inn in a room along with Dillon McCarthy and a juvenile male. The room had been reserved under the name Hunter Griswold, who was not present.
The juvenile was identified as the one who was at Hibbett Sports with Chowen and Griswold the day before. The juvenile was taken into custody on suspicion of identity theft, first-degree criminal trespassing, and theft of $300 to $1,000, then turned over to a La Plata County sheriff’s deputy to be taken to his mother.
The drugs found in the hotel room were thought to include meth, mushrooms, fentanyl, and marijuana. It was unclear who owned the drugs. Police also found the “financial devices” that had been reported stolen, as well as the Chanel bag, an ID, and a Social Security card.
