Final Sentencing In 2017 Kidnap, Torture, Shooting Of Arvada Man

GOLDEN, CO – The last of eight Jefferson County defendants, charged with a 2017 violent crime spree in which an Arvada man was kidnapped beaten and shot, was sentenced in Jefferson County District Court.

Luis Julian Riso, who was 17 at the time, was charged as an adult and sentenced to 21 years in prison Aug. 17, suspended if he completes seven years in the Youthful Offender System, the Jefferson County First Judicial District Attorney's Office said.

On Jan. 27, 2017, an 18-year-old Arvada man was "lured from his home" in the 7000 block of Otis Street under the pretense of meeting a friend to 'hang out' and smoke marijuana, the DA's office said. Friends Jared Welfl, 16 and 18-year-old Anthony Villegas drove him to a park where six others were waiting.

The group then returned with the victim to his home and forced him to reveal the locations of valuable items, which they stole while his parents and siblings slept. The group kept the young man captive and drove away, then forced him to strip naked, where they beat and pistol whipped him repeatedly.

Later, on the Boulder Turnpike, near Pecos Street, he was shot in the leg and thrown from the car, naked in the 14-degree night. He suffered broken bones, lacerations, and a gunshot. The group then returned to his home and stole one of the family's cars and set fire to another car.

“This was an incredibly violent crime against a young man whose life is forever changed,” said District Attorney Pete Weir, in a statement. “Eight defendants, six of whom were juveniles, and multiple crime scenes made this a very complex criminal investigation and prosecution, requiring thousands of hours to achieve justice for this victim and his family.”

Six males and two females participated in the kidnapping, assault, robbery, extortion, car theft, and shooting of the Arvada man.

Sentences previously handed down in Jefferson County were:

• Anthony Villegas, 19, was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Jul. 17, 2018 for his role. He was 18 at the time. He was the ringleader of the operation and shot the victim. Villegas pled guilty to Kidnapping, Assault Aggravated Robbery and a violent crime count.

• Alaya Lovato, 19, was sentenced on July 19, 2018 to three years probation plus 100 hours of community service. Lovato was an adult at the time of the offense. She pled guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and possession of stolen credit cards.

• Steve Voegtlin, 18, was sentenced for his role on Sept 22, 2017. He was given a 21-year suspended prison sentence on the condition that he complete seven years in the YOS. Voegtlin was 17 at the time, but was charged as an adult. He drove one of the cars and fired shots threatening the victim. He pled guilty to kidnapping, aggravated robbery, assault, burglary, resisting arrest and a violent crime count.

• Jared Welfl, 18, was sentenced for his role on January 18, 2018. He was given a 15-year suspended prison sentence on the condition he successfully complete five years in the YOS. Welfl was 16 at the time, but was charged as an adult. He was the friend who lured the victim into the car. Welfl pled guilty to kidnapping, aggravated robbery, burglary and assault
• A 17-year-old female was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2017 to 0-2 years in the Division of Youth Corrections(DYC) for her role. She was charged as a juvenile and pled guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit burglary.
• A 17-year-old male was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2017 to two years in the DYS for his role. He was charged as a juvenile and pled guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery, burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft and other counts.
• A 16-year-old male was sentenced on Sep. 14, 2017 to two years in the DYS for his role. He was charged as a juvenile and pled guilty to aggravated robbery, burglary, aggravated motor vehicle theft another counts.

The Youthful Offender System (YOS) is a state-run correctional facility under the Department of Corrections for young offenders who are charged with a violent crime and prosecuted as adults. A YOS sentence always accompanies a suspended Department of Corrections sentence.

"This is a controlled, regimented environment where the primary focus is public safety, rehabilitation, and development of pro-social behaviors," the DA's office said.

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