Baseball Bat Beating Victim Is Developmentally Disabled
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) – Two teens accused of beating a man with a baseball bat appeared in court Monday where they learned what kind of charges they will be facing.
Austin Holford and Luke Pelham, both 18 years old, were arrested Tuesday. The district attorney says the victim was developmentally disabled, so prosecutors have added an at-risk enhancement to the charges.
The victim, Aaron Tuneberg, 30, suffered serious injuries and is in a coma.
Holford and Pelham are also facing attempted murder charges.
In court Pelham stood by himself wearing a blue jumpsuit. At one point he appeared to be crying. Holford appeared in a green jumpsuit and sat alone in a corner of the holding room.
Originally prosecutors believed Holford, who believed the victim had assaulted a female friend of his, was the mastermind behind the attack and that he had convinced Pelham to help him.
According to arrest papers, Holford admitted to police he hit the victim multiple times with a baseball bat. Pelham told police he only stood watch outside with a golf club. In court prosecutors said they have new information that suggests a golf club was also used in the attack and that Pelham may have been more involved than initially suspected.
Pelham's family was in the courtroom. His friend, Katie Whiteman, spoke with CBS4 after the arrest. She was with him when he called police.
"Crying -- he was really scared and he kept saying he was worried about Aaron and he hopes Aaron is okay," Whiteman said.
Pelham's attorney asked for the judge to reduce his bond while prosecutors argued to increase bond for both suspects. The judge denied both requests.
Holford is being held on a $500,000 bond. Pelham's is set at $100,000.
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