Crime Watch on local news 12/09/2023

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
By SAM KLOMHAUS Sam.Klomhaus@gjsentinel.com
Dec 9, 2023 Updated Dec 9, 2023

A former nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center accused of sexually assaulting unconscious patients was sentenced to 22 years in prison Friday.

Christopher Lambros, 62, pleaded guilty to six counts of attempted sexual assault, and was sentenced to three years, eight months in prison for each count. Those sentences will run consecutively.

Lambros was arrested Oct. 25, 2022, on suspicion of sexual assault after police reported finding evidence on Lambros’ phone of the former nurse inappropriately touching or digitally penetrating at least four unconscious patients. He was fired by the hospital after his arrest.

“I was taken to the hospital, and this monster was allowed in my room,” one of the victims said at the sentencing hearing.

The victim said she was intubated and on life support, and “in the most vulnerable place I could ever possibly be.”

“He was doing things he never should have been allowed to do,” she said.

An investigation into Lambros’ activities began in summer of 2022, according to the arrest affidavit, after another employee reported seeing Lambros taking a “selfie” with a patient’s genitals.

A forensic analysis of Lambros’ phone turned up images and videos of Lambros using his hands and digitally penetrating patients and otherwise inappropriately touching them, according to police.

Several of Lambros’ former co-workers also spoke at the hearing.

“He fooled all of us,” a former house manager at St. Mary’s said, saying Lambros’ actions were “incomprehensible” and had a negative impact on the community and the hospital.

“Not everybody in medicine is a monster, and that’s what we’re going to go with,” she said.

Lambros’ attorney, Public Defender Scott Burrill, said Lambros is “100% remorseful,” and is not a monster, even though he did horrible things.

“I’m sorry and I hope people will forgive me,” Lambros said at the hearing. It was the only statement he made.

District Attorney Dan Rubinstein said police believe there were 13 unique victims in the case, and the victims were in favor of the plea agreement.

“I believe this harsh sentence is absolutely appropriate,” Rubinstein said.

Rubinstein said there has been a ripple effect that includes people who don’t know if they were victimized, and people who don’t trust health care as a result of the case.

Judge Gretchen Larson said the sentence will hold Lambros accountable for his criminal actions, and will give him hope he may be released before he dies, although that may also not happen.

Larson said she was struck by the devastation Lambros’ actions caused within the community.

“We will never heal completely from what he did to us,” one of the victims said.

Man sentenced to 22 years for shooting former stepfather
By SAM KLOMHAUS Sam.Klomhaus@gjsentinel.com
Dec 16, 2023 Updated Dec 16, 2023

A man accused of shooting his former stepfather to death in July 2022 was sentenced to 22 years in the Department of Corrections on Friday.

Armando Gonzalez-Gallegos, who was 20 at the time of the shooting, was charged with the murder of 54-year-old Jose Martinez-Chaparro after the shooting. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the heat of passion.

In a letter to the court, Gonzalez-Gallegos wrote “I consider myself to be a good man. People around me know that.”

Gonzalez-Gallegos said that he is not a murderer.

Martinez-Chaparro’s body was found by two coworkers who were picking him up for work.

An eyewitness saw Gonzalez-Gallegos shoot Martinez-Chaparro in the chest, according to the arrest affidavit. The witness heard two more gunshots as he was running away from the scene. Gonzalez-Gallegos said something to the effect of the gun had slipped or jammed.

According Gonzalez-Gallegos’ attorney, Gonzalez-Gallegos and Martinez-Chaparro were in a disagreement over threats Martinez-Chaparro had made toward Gonzalez-Gallegos’ mother, who had been separated from Martinez-Chaparro for three years.

His mother, Jessica Gallegos, said Armando is a “good, friendly person with feelings. He likes to help people.”

Jessica Gallegos said her son is not dangerous and not a criminal. She said she believes Armando is innocent.

“I know that many people see he has a noble heart and is a good human being,” she said.

Gallegos asked for a favorable sentence for her son.

The prosecution asked for a 22-year prison sentence.

“Honestly, I regret having been there,” Gonzalez-Gallegos said. He said someone needed to be held accountable, but law enforcement and the prosecutors only listened to one side of things.

“I was there but that doesn’t mean I fired the shot. I’m pleading guilty because I don’t have a better (opportunity),” Gonzalez-Gallegos said.

Judge Gretchen Larson said she must treat Gonzalez-Gallegos as guilty to the crime to which he pleaded guilty.

Larson noted Gonzalez-Gallegos has no prior criminal record.

“This plea agreement gives you an opportunity to walk out of the department of corrections at some time,” Larson said.

Man sentenced to 19 years in shooting of suspected drug dealer
By SAM KLOMHAUS Sam.Klomhaus@gjsentinel.com
Dec 16, 2023 Updated Dec 16, 2023

One of five people police said were involved in the shooting death of a suspected drug dealer in April, 2022 was sentenced to 19 years in prison earlier this week.

K.C. Hatley, 23, of Grand Junction pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in the shooting death of Buddy Cates, 31, of Grand Junction.

Cates was found dead on the floor of his hotel room at the Days Inn on Horizon Drive after police responded to a report of gunshots in the area.

Police said Hatley, along with Cory Davis, Lanea Cameron, Amanda Cunningham and Brooke Ramsey all attempted to rob Cates, who police said was a suspected drug dealer.

Video from the hotel shows four people, believed by police to be Hatley, Davis, Cameron and Cunningham, forcing their way into the room. Audible pops can be heard, but video does not show what happened in the room. A witness told police Davis shot Cates after Cates shot Hatley.

Charges of second-degree murder, felony murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, felony menacing and possession of a weapon by a previous offender were dismissed via the plea agreement.

Cameron was sentenced to 20 years in prison in July after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit second-degree assault.

Ramsey, who police said was the driver for the other four, was sentenced to six years in community corrections after pleading guilty to one count of first degree burglary.

Davis is scheduled for a plea hearing Dec. 28. Cunningham’s case is still working its way through the court system.