Carrier’s Release Angers Some Families Of Victims
The El Paso County jail, officially known as the Criminal Justice Center, is responsible for notifying crime victims when a suspect, defendant or convict is released. However, the jail’s chief said on Monday that the notification process will be reviewed after some victims said they weren’t notified this past weekend.
“Were we provided the victim’s information?” said Chief Paula Presley. “Was there an appropriate phone number? Had the victim moved? We depend on information from investigating agencies to determine whom to notify.”
A woman who identified herself as the parent of a 13-year-old boy sent KRDO Newschannel 13 an email complaining that she wasn’t told about the release of Joshua Carrier over the weekend. She said her son is one of Carrier’s alleged victims.
Carrier is a former Colorado Springs police officer and volunteer wrestling coach charged with nearly 200 counts of child sex abuse and possession of child pornography. The alleged victims are more than 20 boys at Mann Middle School.
The woman wrote that the district attorney’s office was unable to provide information about Carrier. The office on Monday referred KRDO Newschannel 13’s questions to Presley.
Presley said in the early stages of an investigation, participating law enforcement agencies inform victims and their families that they can sign a form requesting notification about a suspect or defendant’s release. She said it’s possible that some victims may not have signed the form or provided accurate contact information.
“If there’s a change of status in court with victims, or there become additional victims once (the case is) in court, that’s when we’ll see problems,” said Presley. “In this case, it sounds like that may be what happened.”
KRDO Newschannel 13 spent time on Monday trying to locate Carrier. The crew found that an address on Streambrook Drive had not been occupied for several years, according to neighbors.
“We want to know how the authorities are keeping tabs on this particular person,” said Amy Babcock, a neighbor and mother of five. “And I feel for the families who didn’t find out until after the fact.”
KRDO Newschannel 13 visited another address on Birdie Court and found no one home there. A next-door neighbor was shocked at the possibility of having Carrier as a neighbor.
“I’d be afraid that a lot of the families would be a little upset,” said Kim Cadenhead. “We have a lot of children on just this road alone.”
Presley said a court and the bail bonding company involved determined the conditions of Carrier’s release, and likely established requirements for him to check-in with local authorities. Those details were not available as of late Monday night.
