SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. — A 27-year-old Glenwood Springs man was sentenced Monday after he pleaded guilty to threatening Summit County school district staff.
Charles Draughn made the threats last January to Summit County school teachers, and district staff -- including Superintendent Tony Byrd -- over the district's LGBTQ+ curriculum. He posted the threats on the Summit Daily News' Instagram account, the 5th Judicial District Attorney's Office said.
The Summit Daily News' editor reported the threats on Jan. 24 to the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Draughn was arrested the following day in the Snowmass area of Pitkin County.
Draughn pleaded guilty last month to felony menacing with a real or simulated weapon. Summit County Judge Reed Owens sentenced Draughn to three years in community corrections and ordered a mental health evaluation, along with fines and court costs. Judge Owens also extended an already in place protection order to include all Summit County schools and facilities.
“I want to thank this rapid, coordinated response by local and state law enforcement agencies to avoid what could have been a tragedy in our community,” said Heidi McCollum, 5th Judicial District Attorney. “The court, by sentencing Mr. Draughn to the maximum allowed by law, sent a message today which reflects the overreaching impact that Mr. Draughn’s threats to kill, had on the residents of Summit County.”
Draughn will serve his sentence in Garfield County as the 5th Judicial District, which includes Eagle, Summit, Lake and Clear Creek counties, does not have a community corrections facility, the DA's office.
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