Fugitive Brothers Enter Pleas In Colorado

Two of three fugitive siblings who were the focus of a nationwide search last summer entered pleas in Huerfano County court Thursday morning.

21-year-old Ryan Dougherty and 26-year-old Dylan Doughtery entered pleas related to their charges in their Aug. 10th capture in southern Colorado. The trio is accused of shooting at a police officer in Florida, robbing a Georgia bank, and shooting at officers in Colorado during their capture.

Ryan pleaded guilty to five counts of felony menacing. As part of an agreement, all his other charges were dropped. He will face anywhere from one to 20 years in prison with a cap of four years per count. The judge now has to decide if Ryan will serve his sentence consecutively or concurrently. The prosecution has requested consecutive sentencing.

Ryan also faces charges in Florida. He had just been sentenced to register as a sex offender and was on probation.

Dylan pleaded guilty to assault in the first degree in an agreement that dismisses his attempted escape charges. He will serve 10 to 32 years in prison. Dylan still faces prosecution in Georgia for bank robbery which will run concurrent with his sentence in Colorado.

Their sister, 29-year-old Lee Grace Dougherty, pleaded guilty last week to reduced charges. She pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and two counts of menacing, all felonies.

Cathy Mullens, candidate for the third judicial district attorney, was in the courtroom on Thursday and told KRDO she was not happy with the plea agreements.

“I was extremely disappointed. I certainly don’t think justice was served here today,” said Mullens.

Mullens said law enforcement agencies, civilans and everybody involved in the high-speed chase in August 2011 deserved better.

“We got the first crack at this trio and I think we should have made a strong and definitive statement about how we deal with criminals in Colorado and here in the third district,” she said.

Current D.A. Frank Ruybalid and attorney’s for Ryan and Dylan would not discuss the plea deals citing a gag order that still remains in these cases.

All three will be sentenced on April 30th.