Opening Arguments Given In Carrier Trial
Opening arguments were completed and testimony began Friday in the case against a former Colorado Springs police officer and coach.
The case against Joshua Carrier, 31, began in 2007 when Air Force Special Investigations found his name on a porn website. However, for reasons that remain unclear, the case was not turned over to police until 2011.
In May 2011, officers executed a search warrant at Carrier’s home and found videos of nude children on a laptop computer in his bedroom. Officers said they ultimately found more than 42,000 such images. Also found on another computer in the home was evidence of more than 200 visits to a Russian porn website and a nudist website, all offering photos of nude children.
Carrier was arrested that month and parents began expressing concern after the case became public. Carrier faces nearly 200 counts of five charges against 22 alleged victims, boys on the wrestling team at Mann Middle School.
On Friday, opening arguments began. Prosecutors said that Carrier took advantage of the boys while working at the school as a resource officer, then as a volunteer wrestling coach 20 hours each week. Prosecutors also pointed out that Carrier allegedly also claimed to be an EMT when, in fact, he was not. His status as a person in a position of trust, prosecutors said, led the boys to keep quiet about being allegedly molested.
Prosecutors continued their opening arguments, saying that Carrier kept a comment book about physical examinations of the children. In the book, Carrier would make remarks about the maturity of a child. Carrier also is accused of conducting physical exams of the boys without the supervision of coaches. Prosecutors said that Carrier would touch the boys inappropriately and the boys didn’t tell anyone because they thought it was normal.
Nicholas Graham, a security officer at Mann Middle School, said he witnessed some of those exams. Carrier allegedly would call Graham to explain and defend his actions.
Investigators reconstructed deleted videos from a laptop, showing some of Carrier’s inappropriate actions. Carrier also is accused of performing strip searches of the children. Only a police commander can authorize a strip search, prosecutors said.
The defense presented its opening argument next. Carrier’s attorneys argued that Carrier is a loving person who cares about children. They said that the school’s coaches asked Carrier to serve as a trainer at all sporting events because of his perceived medical background.
The defense also accused the media of sensationalizing the charges against Carrier, saying it added fuel to the fire. The defense concluded its opening argument by saying that Carrier is not only not guilty, he is innocent.
8 witnesses testified for the prosecution — all law enforcement officers who explained their roles in the raid of Carrier’s home, and in creating a ruse that his home had been burglarized so that he would return home and be arrested.
Defense attorneys cross-examined most of the witnesses, seeking more details about the raid. Jurors also asked several questions by writing them on paper and handing them to Judge David Gilbert.
In previous hearings, the defense questioned why only one parent complained about Carrier’s alleged behavior before his arrest, and expressed skepticism about other parents coming forward only after the arrest.
The trial continues Monday and is expected to last several weeks.
You can also Follow KRDO on Twitter for live updates from the courtroom.
