Colorado Springs man charged with attempted murder in Loveland pleads not guilty, trial set for March 2025 – Loveland Reporter-Herald

Jesus Lopez-Zavala, a Colorado Springs resident charged with two counts of attempted murder, among other charges, in an incident that occurred in 2023, has pleaded not guilty and will go to trial early next year.

The 36-year-old appeared before 8th District Court Judge Joseph Findley in Fort Collins on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, saying they were “false accusations.” William Holtz, Lopez-Zavala’s lawyer, said his client was given a competency evaluation but was ultimately found competent to proceed with the case.

Deputy District Attorney Erin Butler said her office is rescinding the plea agreement offer that would have called for 10 to 32 years in prison, leaving him facing a sentence of 16 to 48 years for each attempted murder count if guilty. will be found guilty.

Findlay scheduled Lopez-Zavala for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10 ahead of a 5-day trial beginning March 17.

Lopez-Zavala was arrested last August and accused of breaking into a home in the 3200 block of West Eisenhower Boulevard and threatening two people with an ax before a fight broke out, injuring him and a man inside the home.

During preliminary hearing in May A Larimer County sheriff’s deputy said Lopez-Zavala broke into a home in west Loveland looking for a female victim who was in the home, believing she was having an affair with a man in the home. He is accused of getting into a fight with a man after a break-in, resulting in Lopez-Zavala being stabbed and the man hit in the head with an ax; During a hearing in early May, Holtz did question the severity of the injuries sustained by the male victim.

Judge Findlay found probable cause in the case and committed the felony charges to trial.

In this case, Lopez-Zavala is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, a Class 2 felony; first-degree assault causing great bodily harm, a Class 3 felony; first-degree burglary, a Class 3 felony; two counts of felony menacing, a Class 5 felony; criminal mischief, a Class 6 felony; and violation of a protective order, as well as five sentencing enhancements for violent crimes.

He was also charged in another case with possession of fentanyl, a Class 4 drug offense; resisting arrest, a Class 2 misdemeanor; obstructing a peace officer; Class 2 misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor drug offense; and tampering with physical evidence, a Class 1 misdemeanor.