No criminal charges to be filed in Colo. homeless man's death, sheriff's office says
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Colorado authorities say there will be no criminal charges filed in connection with a homeless man’s death because the person responsible had been acting in self-defense.
The Gazette reports that 48-year-old Michael Allen Dorland was beaten at a Colorado Springs apartment in December and died about two weeks later.
The El Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says Dorland threatened John Gilbert Nevares with a weapon inside the apartment. Nevares was accused of attacking Dorland with a golf club.
The county coroner’s office told The Gazette that Dorland had been beaten so badly that he was barely conscious when first responders found him, CBS affiliate KKTV reports.
Nevares was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon and later cleared of criminal wrongdoing.
The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office says it couldn’t disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Nevares remains jailed in a separate case for investigation of criminal impersonation and false identification.
