(Rightallegiance.com) – A Colorado town’s local newspaper found itself at the center of a controversy as it reported that numerous copies of its latest edition were mysteriously stolen shortly after publishing an article detailing a disturbing incident. The focus of the report was on the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at a party in May 2023.
According to the Ouray County Plaindealer, the victim claimed to have been repeatedly assaulted by three different teenagers. What added a layer of intrigue to the story was the claim that the assaults took place at the residence of the Ouray Police Chief, Jeff Wood. However, it’s essential to note that Chief Wood himself has not been implicated or accused of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with the incident.
Details from an affidavit obtained by the Plaindealer, courtesy of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, indicated that the suspects were under the influence of alcohol and drugs on the day of the alleged crime. The victim, in her statement to the police, mentioned experiencing moments of unconsciousness but adamantly denied having consumed any drugs.
This week, arrests were made in connection with the sexual assault case. Gabriel Trujillo, 20, Ashton Whittington, 18, and Nate Dieffenderffer, identified as Wood’s stepson and 17 years old at the time of the alleged crime, were taken into custody. Notably, Whittington faces accusations not of direct participation but of failing to intervene in the assault. All three suspects vehemently deny the allegations and have been released on bail, according to reports from Fox 31.
The Plaindealer, despite its commitment to bringing attention to critical community issues, faced an unexpected challenge. The newspaper reported that numerous copies of the issue containing the sensitive article disappeared from racks in both Ouray and Ridgway. Intriguingly, the theft involved someone depositing money into each newspaper box to open them before making off with all the papers.
In a Facebook post, the Plaindealer expressed suspicions that the theft was a deliberate attempt to suppress the news, stating, “It’s pretty clear that someone didn’t want the community to read the news this week.” The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office has been alerted about the missing papers, and an investigator has been assigned to the case.
Remarkably, a suspect was identified on Friday, though the identity will remain undisclosed until a citation is issued. The newspaper clarified that the suspect is not related to Chief Wood or the three accused individuals in the rape case.
Despite this unsettling incident, the Plaindealer remains steadfast in its dedication to journalistic principles. In a newsletter, the newspaper asserted, “We’re not going to stop doing our job, which is to shine light on important issues in our community and keep you informed. This person is not going to shut down the freedom of the press by stealing a few hundred newspapers. Our community won’t stand for it, and we won’t, either.” The defiant message concluded with a bold assertion: “If you meant to intimidate us, you just strengthened our resolve.”