Colorado District 4 Democratic candidate arrested for allegedly violating protection order
Colorado Congressional District 4 candidate Ike McCorkle was arrested earlier this week in Douglas County on suspicion of violating a protection order.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed that on Jan. 2 just before 7 p.m., deputies responded to a call at a home with a Parker address on an alleged restraining order violation.
Dispatch advised responding deputies that McCorkle's uncle stated that he had a restraining order against him, and that Ike had sent him an email on New Year's Eve, which violated the terms of the protection order. His uncle had filed the order in November 2022 after receiving threats over a family dispute. That order was granted, and Douglas County deputies served Ike with the no-contact order that same month.
McCorkle's uncle stated over the phone that the email stated "Love you. Please withdraw your court filings against me. I am really busy as you can imagine and don't have time to deal with it. I apologize if you were unnerved. Perhaps we were both a bit in the wrong. Happy New Year! Ike."
Deputies reviewed the order, which was put into effect on Sept. 24, 2022, with an expiration date of Sept. 24, 2024. The order states the defendant "shall have no contact with the plaintiff or protected persons except through attorneys, legal process, or court hearings."
On Jan. 2, when contacted by deputies, McCorkle admitted to deputies that he sent the email on Dec. 31, 2023, and that he was aware of the protection order that was in place. He was taken into custody and booked into the Douglas County Jail.
According to Colorado statutes, violation of a protection order is a Class 2 misdemeanor. McCorkle is scheduled to be in court next on Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m.
McCorkle provided the following statement to CBS News Colorado:
"As many often do at the end of the year, I was reflecting on my relationships and their importance to me. In doing so, I reached out to friends and loved ones to share a message of love and support. This yearly outreach included my uncle, which is now the subject of a legal matter. No one who knows me could ever deny that I love my family deeply. This includes my uncle. Our closeness was unfortunately overshadowed by family tragedy when my grandmother (his mother) passed away, to which he has never fully recovered. I will continue to be guided by my values and will use my platform to pursue mental health awareness. Meanwhile, my focus remains unchanged – to assist and support the people of Colorado; to help unify government and policy in a way that benefits our community; and to enable our citizens to find the voice to challenge ineffective leadership and fight for the future of Colorado. Together, we can preserve this great state and unite under a common goal."
