DA using forensics to investigate judge's laptop

Charlie Able, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 27, 2007 at midnight

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The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office is still investigating a stolen laptop computer that was in the possession of a former judge who resigned as Denver's City Attorney after the computer was traced to his home.

"The investigation is ongoing, we still are working on the case," Pam Russell, spokeswoman for District Attorney Scott Storey, said Friday.

Larry Manzanares, a former district court judge, became Denver City Attorney in January, but resigned in February, after TV and newspaper reports that a stolen laptop was traced to his home.

Manzanares was placed on investigatory leave from the job, which paid $125,473 a year, by Mayor John Hickenlooper after the laptop was located at Manzanares' home.

Russell said investigators are conducting an exacting forensic examination of the computer, a time-consuming task.

Once the investigation is complete, prosecutors will decide what, if any, action to take, Russell said.

Manzanares, 50, has said he bought the $1,579 computer from an unidentified man in a parking lot south of City Hall, across the street from police headquarters.

Manzanares has characterized his actions as "foolish."

The laptop was reported missing from a storage area in the City and County Building on Jan. 26. The State Court Administrator's Office, which reported the theft, has declined to say who had access to a room where it was stored.

Police later tracked the computer to Manzanares' home through the use of theft detection software.

Manzanares returned the laptop the next day, but the Denver District Attorney's Office asked that a special prosecutor be appointed to handle the case.

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