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Colorado Judge Maintains Charges For Danish Man Jesper Joergensen Accused In Fire

/ CBS Colorado

DENVER (AP)- A judge has decided against dropping criminal charges against a mentally ill Danish man accused of starting a large Colorado wildfire in 2018 that burned 149 homes. The decision came Friday after a prosecutor said Jesper Joergensen, wouldn't be deported if released from jail because of Biden administration changes to immigration policy.

Fearing Joergensen could pose a danger to the public if freed, Judge Gregory Lyman instead ordered him be sent to the state mental health hospital for evaluation.

The judge wants to know if a doctor there might recommend that Joergensen be forcibly medicated to treat a delusional disorder so he could be brought to trial.

By COLLEEN SLEVIN

(© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

© 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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