A teen was arrested Sunday after the Cortez Police Department received a call about “suspicious activity and shots fired at a vehicle,” according to an alert posted on crimewatch.net.
The teen was spotted in the Front Row Seat parking lot about 3 p.m. Sunday before fleeing. Sgt. Kurtiss Baumgartner observed the teen place something in the bushes near Park Street and Montezuma Avenue.
The teen, who was identified as 17-year-old Hevon Martinez in court, had an arrest warrant from Archuleta County and was arrested. Police located a loaded .45-caliber handgun in the bushes, and a loaded magazine with .45 auto rounds was located in the teen’s pocket.
Martinez was charged with possession of a handgun by a juvenile, obstruction of justice, unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon and felony menacing, the alert said. He was taken to the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center in Grand Junction.
Martinez appeared virtually at Montezuma Combined Courts on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. He appeared in front of Chief Judge Todd Plewe of the 22nd Judicial District.
The juvenile read a statement he prepared to the court, requesting to be released from the youth center because of physical and mental health concerns.
He also is grieving the loss of his mother, who was killed at the beginning of July. He requested that he be allowed to attend the memorial and grieve with his family. His attorney, Kevin Chambers, requested GPS monitoring and supervision as an alternative.
Plewe determined that Martinez will be held in the youth center without bond, and scheduled his return filing petition for July 24 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge William Furse. He also will appear for another unrelated case in Montezuma County at that time.
He was under 24-hour supervision of his aunt, who was appointed as his temporary guardian, in Archuleta County. He has three pending cases in Archuleta County. He appeared in court there on July 10 virtually.
During Wednesday’s hearing in Archuleta County, it was revealed that Martinez’s mother was Chrystal Snow, who was murdered in Pagosa Springs on July 2. Judge Justin Fay acknowledged that Martinez is under investigation in connection to that incident.
Police in Pagosa Springs responded to an open line 911 call that was traced to Snow’s home, located at 1081 County Road 700, west of Pagosa Springs. When they arrived, she was found dead outside of her home from multiple gunshot wounds.
The juvenile made a statement to the court during Wednesday’s hearing, promising to earn his GED, find a job, and remain sober if released from the detention center. He also stated that he needed to be there supporting his younger brother in the aftermath of his mother’s death.
Martinez also complained of hair in his food and sour milk at the detention center.
Fay asked the prosecution if Martinez was considered a flight risk or a danger to the community if he were to be released, specifically in light of the ongoing homicide investigation.
Prosecutor Vance Davis answered with one word: “Yes.”
Martinez will continue to be held in the detention center, Fay ruled. He will appear in court for all three pending cases in Archuleta County on July 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Snow’s murder is under investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. CBI declined to comment about Martinez’s involvement in the homicide. It is not confirmed whether he is a suspect or person of interest.
A news release from July 3 stated that CBI agents believe it was a targeted shooting. Persons of interest have been identified, but no arrests have been made, and names have not been released. Investigators say that they do not believe there is a threat to the community, according to the release.
