Prosecutors Say No Violation Of Shooting Gag Order
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) - Prosecutors say there is no evidence authorities violated a judge's gag order after information was leaked about a package suspect James Holmes allegedly sent to a psychiatrist before a mass shooting at an Aurora theater.
In a separate notice to the court, defense attorneys told the judge they are no longer seeking a hearing on whether the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office violated an order limiting pretrial publicity by releasing Holmes' mug shot.
Holmes, 24, faces 152 charges in the July 20 shooting that killed 12 people and injured 58 others. Another hearing on the case is scheduled Thursday.
In a motion released Wednesday, Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers asked the judge to reject sanctions over the package because no specific violations were identified.
Defense attorneys asked for the sanctions earlier this month after claiming authorities made improper statements about the contents of a package Holmes sent to University of Colorado psychiatrist Dr. Lynne Fenton.
The defense also objected after authorities released a photo of Holmes on Sept. 20 showing him with short brown hair. He had longer orange-red hair when he was arrested at the scene of the shootings.
The defense told the court the issue is moot. Sheriff Grayson Robinson told KUSA-TV he checked with appropriate authorities before releasing the photo.
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