13 Investigates seeks answers from lawmakers in response to Pueblo mother killed by ex-boyfriend

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- As the 2023 Colorado Legislative Session begins, some representatives are considering new laws aimed at cracking down on domestic violence crimes in the state. This comes nearly two months after the 13 Investigates special report "Failed by the system," profiling the murder of a Pueblo mother at the hands of a habitual domestic violence offender.

Nearly one year ago, a Pueblo mother was murdered by her ex-boyfriend inside a Dollar General. 13 Investigates' special report in November detailed the numerous ways Renee Dominguez was failed by the criminal justice system.

Monday, 13 Investigates sought answers from lawmakers on what can be done on the first day of the 2023 legislative session.

"It looks like he fell through the cracks for sure," Rep. Matt Soper republican from Delta County said. "He fell through the cracks in this perfect storm of laws."

Soper is referring to the fact that Dominguez's boyfriend, Jerome Bustos, was possessing a weapon because he did not have any prior felony convictions that fall under Colorado's Victims Rights Act.

All of Bustos' offenses were misdemeanor assault charges or protection order violations, and they were not convictions. During the pandemic, each of his trials were pushed back multiple times, not because of the evidence presented, but because of jury trials being postponed due to the coronavirus.

Each time, Bustos was able to post a low cash bond in multiple Colorado counties, all were the site of protection order violations. The judges who released Bustos on bond between 2020 and 2022 are Moffat County Judge Brittany Schneider, Rio Blanco County Judge Joseph Fennessy, and Pueblo County Judge Margaret Vellar.

"Judges definitely need better education," Rep. Soper said. "They don't have to just do catch and release and let these offenders back out on the street."

Rep. Ty Winter, republican representing parts of rural Pueblo County, echoed his sentiment around what he says is a catch-and-release system with bonds in our state.

"I think our judges need to start being held accountable for some of this," Rep. Winter said. "I think a lot of it has to do with legislation that's passed. You know, it literally puts the handcuffs on our law enforcement and our judges and it don't allow them to do their job to the letter of the law."

Winter is referring to a 2019 law that "creates a presumption that a defendant should be released with the least restrictive conditions possible and without monetary conditions," according to the bill text.

Rep. Soper was a prime sponsor of that piece of legislation. He urges judges to reduce the number of personal recognition bonds, or non-cash bonds offered to repeat offenders. He also urges judges to mandate higher amounts on cash bonds for those deemed a public safety risk.

"I've had numerous conversations with members of our judiciary and they've said that they believe they only have the ability to issue a personal recognizance bond," Rep. Soper said. "That's not true in most cases at all. There's always the option of a cash bond."

Dominguez had both a criminal and civil protection order against Bustos throughout 2021 and into early 2022. However, 13 Investigates uncovered that Bustos was still able to possess a gun in violation of that order.

"I probably would side with the critics would say it's a piece of paper. I think we could do a lot stronger job on protection orders," Rep. Soper said. "Certainly, I do not want Coloradans to be victimized, especially if they're feeling that threatened, that they have sought out a protection order."

Rep. Soper, a member of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, said multiple pieces of domestic violence legislation will be coming in the next 119 days of the legislative session. Many are centered around placing victims as the focus in domestic violence cases that enter a court of law.

"The one bill that I'm aware of is to move all domestic violence cases from municipal court to county court or district court," Rep. Soper said. That's really to make sure that victims actually are able to have their case heard in a court that's more weighty. A court that's more friendly to victims."

13 Investigates reached out to Pueblo Senator Nick Hinrichsen for comment on what can be done in response to Dominguez's murder. He was not available on the first day of the legislative session.