GOLDEN, Colo. — The last of eight people involved in a kidnapping and assault of an Arvada man was charged this month for his part in the 2017 violent crime spree.
Luis Julian Riso, who was 16 at the time and is now 18 years old, was given a 21-year prison sentence, which would be suspended if he successfully completes seven years in the Youthful Offender System, according to the Jefferson and Gilpin Counties District Attorney's Office.
He was sentenced Aug. 17.
All eight people involved — six juveniles and two adults — were charged, convicted and sentenced according to their role in the crime. Three of the juveniles were charged as adults.
On Jan. 27, 2017, six males and two females participated in the kidnapping, assault, robbery, extortion, car theft and shooting of an 18-year-old Arvada man, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The man was lured from his home under the pretense of meeting up with a friend to smoke marijuana. He left his home on the 7000 block of Otis Street in Arvada, and got into a car with 16-year-old Jared Welfl and 18-year-old Anthony Villegas.
They drove to a park to meet up with six others, some of whom were in another car.
The group then drove the man back to his home and forced him to reveal where certain items were kept the house. Some went inside and stole items while the man’s parents and siblings slept.
The defendants drove away from the home with the man, and continued to torment and assault him. During the kidnapping, he was forced to strip naked and was repeatedly beaten and pistol-whipped.
Later that evening, the man was shot in the leg and thrown from the car on the Boulder Turnpike, near Pecos. It was 14 degrees out.
He was left on the side of the road, naked, with broken bones, lacerations and a gunshot wound.
The group returned to his home, stole a vehicle and set fire to one of the cars they had used.
“This was an incredibly violent crime against a young man whose life is forever changed,” said District Attorney Pete Weir. “Eight defendants, six of whom were juveniles, and multiple crime scenes made this a very complex criminal investigation and prosecution, requiring thousands of hours to achieve justice for this victim and his family.”
The eight defendants are:
- Luis Riso. He was 16 at the time and pled guilty on June 22 to kidnapping, aggravated robbery, burglary, assault and one violent crime count. He was sentenced Aug. 17 to 21-year prison sentence, which would be suspended if he successfully completes seven years in the Youthful Offender System.
- Anthony Villegas. He was 18 at the time and was identified as the ringleader of the operation and the member who shot the man. He pled guilty to kidnapping, assault, aggravated robbery and two violent crime counts. He was sentenced to 34 years in prison on July 17.
- Alaya Lovato. She was 18 at the time and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and possession of two financial transaction devices. She was sentenced on July 19 to three years probation, plus 100 hours of community service.
- Steve Voegtlin. He was 17 at the time, but was charged as an adult and pled guilty to kidnapping, aggravated robbery, assault, burglary, resisting arrest and one violent crime count. He drove one of the cars and fired shots threatening the man. On Sept. 22, 2017, he was given a 21-year prison sentence, which would be suspended if he successfully completes seven years in the Youthful Offender System.
- Jared Welfl. He was 16 years old at the time, but was charged as an adult. He pled guilty to kidnapping, aggravated robbery, burglary and assault. He was sentenced Jan. 18 to a 15-year suspended sentence on the condition he successfully completes five years in the Youthful Offender System. He was the friend who lured the man to the car.
- A 17-year-old female was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2017 to a maximum of two years in the Division of Youth Corrections for her role. She was charged as a juvenile and pled guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit burglary
- A 17-year-old male was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2017 to two years in the Division of Youth Corrections for his role. He was charged as a juvenile and pled guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, tampering with evidence, assault and two counts of violent juvenile offender.
- A 16-year-old male was sentenced on Sept. 14, 2017 to two years in the Division of Youth Corrections for his role. He was charged as a juvenile and pled guilty to aggravated robbery, burglary, aggravated motor vehicle theft, tampering with evidence, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, theft, assault, and two counts of violent juvenile offender.
