State trooper arrested in Internet sting

Andrew Villegas, Greely Tribune

Friday, July 25, 2008

Justin Tolman

A state trooper was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a child after Fort Lupton police said he used the Internet to send graphic sexual pictures of himself to a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Fort Lupton Police Chief Ron Grannis said Colorado State Patrol Officer Justin Tolman, 22, was arrested Friday morning at his home in Colorado Springs and was booked into the Weld County Jail.

Tolman — who has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a State Patrol investigation — has been with the State Patrol since July 2007 and finished the academy in December.

Grannis said his department began investigating Tolman after Detective Crystal Schwartz set up Internet accounts on MySpace.com and Yahoo! Chat posing as a 14- year-old girl.

Soon after the account was set up, Tolman began messaging Schwartz, sending her pornographic images and telling her what he would do sexually when they met, investigators said.

Police say Tolman even sent a picture of himself in a State Patrol uniform standing next to a patrol vehicle, and he messaged the "girl" every day for two months.

"Every day he was pushing toward something," Grannis said.

The Internet accounts are the same ones that were used in the arrest two weeks ago of Stanley Gantt, 52, a Transportation and Security Administration officer on the same charges Tolman faces.

"They're the exact ones," Grannis said. "They don't learn."

Grannis said 50 to 100 more men are still messaging Schwartz under the assumption that she's 14.

But he said limited resources are holding him back from making arrests.

"We arrest as many as we (have) the time and the means to do," he said of the two arrests thus far.

Sgt. John Hahn, spokesman for the State Patrol, said the patrol had completed a background check on Tolman before he was hired last year and that he passed.

"The process is an exhaustive one, to say the least," Hahn said.

Tolman is being held without bail in the Weld County Jail pending his first appearance in court Saturday morning.

• July 26, 2008

  12:06 a.m.

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  SL10 writes:

  WOW! Child molsters on the force. Great to know this crap is going on. :-\

• July 26, 2008

  8:14 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Which one of the following disiplines has never been convicted of child molestation: Teachers, priests, boy scout leader, church pastor, gym coach, artists, architects, doctors, plumbers, inmates, newspaper reporters, cops, judges, and finally a mafia godfather? Could it be my kid would have faired no safer than the company of Carlos Gambino, Profaci, Bannano, Anastsia, Genovese, Columbo, Marsallies, Trafficante, Zerreli, Raffa, Giacalone, Provanzo, Gotti, Giacana, Lansky, Rothstien, Cohen, Seagal, Guziak, Nitti, Capone, Luciano, than to walk alongside the pillars of the community? I can't think of one of these guys ever being convicted for raping a child. Anybody name a made man, who lived to be convicted of this crime? So is it safe to say, other than a mob boss,the rest of society is suspect on the issue of child molestation? Intresting statistic, and I'm still trying to come up with a name.

• July 26, 2008

  9:02 p.m.

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  hakj writes:

  Paid admin leave yet being held witout bail? If this was some joe off the street his job would be gone, in jail, and guess what? NO PAYCHECK.

• July 26, 2008

  9:34 p.m.

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  jiminy writes:

  Went to school with this guy. What a JERK! He deserves the hardest punisment a judge can give him. But, he is a cop. Do we really think he will get it? Take him off the payroll!!!!!!!!!

• July 26, 2008

  9:49 p.m.

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  mrtaco writes:

  fat pig can't get a date so he disgustingly breaks the laws he's paid to enforce... what a waste of space.

• July 26, 2008

  10:06 p.m.

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  elaineb writes:

  What a disgrace to the badge. Looks like the "exhaustive background check" needs an overhaul.

• July 26, 2008

  10:33 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Forget about the distiction of disipline; just delivery equality of justice. If convicted, this man should be rendered to never be a threat to a child again. Evil exists in all professions, justice should be equally distributed amongst all professions, all socio-economic stratas, regardless of position in our society. I believe the girl's blindfold has worn thin in spots, allowing her to see who stands before her as she holds the scales of justice. Many are tired of lack of equality amongst the classes in the administration of justice. Many claim America has a vast inequity in the administration of justice, the first being the ability to afford those who serve her courts.

• July 27, 2008

  1:48 a.m.

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  Who_Me writes:

  I would bust glass on him.

• July 27, 2008

  4:31 a.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Used to be two things you never wanted to be incarcerated as, this man has both. He won't go to prison, double standards will keep anyone from busting glass on him, sad.  If they do put him in, today's prisons will segregate or protect him, thus he'll be out shortly, if he does go, to repeat his incurable crime again. If they get convicted twice for raping a child under 12, with colaboratimg DNA, several states sought to spend the extra money to put them to death. Supreme court split 5-4 and saved them, getting closer. Society is quite willing to harshen up penalties as everyday these predators destroy another innocent child. Who_Me, I understand your affinity to forgive them; thus many people become his accomplise by proxy, by allowing him to harm the children repeatedly, by forgiving him this crime. Sorry Who_me, I never want to let him out again, and I want the same mercy the child rapist showed the child, while doing his time, none. Bust glass on him, put him down if he is ever convicted twice for raping children. Doubt this state trooper ever sees a day in prison, he who knew better than anyone, why? Justice has eyes to see who stands before her; equality is a myth almost anywhere, in every country. Who_Me, he's yours to coddle and forgive; I think the majority of us with children, find this man's crimes both incurable and unforgivable. He'd make a great ashtray in in prison. I'd rather they free a property criminal, drug offense, even a murderer, than to see the child molester returned to society to reoffend. My children and grandchildren mean a lot to me, wish more would care to protect children, and make this crime capitol. When a man gets 10 years for stealing books from public libraries, when a drug dealer gets manditory 10 and 15 years for selected drug offenses, why would you give a sex offender, especially a law enforcement officer convicted of this crime, probation? In eyes of many, this double standard demeans the value and crediability of equality of justice.

• July 27, 2008

  4:43 a.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Who_Me, see you like the saying,"Bust glass on him"; I should tell you someday about how I came to appreciate that saying. I laugh about it, but it had serious implications.

• July 27, 2008

  7:12 a.m.

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  gratefulweb writes:

  fry the fat a**

• July 27, 2008

  9:40 a.m.

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  elaineb writes:

  I take comfort in knowing my tax dollars paid this waste of human flesh. CSP - fire his a$$!!

• July 27, 2008

  9:51 a.m.

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  singularity99 writes:

  I checked out his photo on Myspace where he is standing in front of his cruiser. The guy is fat. Apparently, he is too fat to get a date with someone his own age, so he has to try for a 14 year-old.

  An "exhaustive background check"? How about looking at his weight? Doesn't the CSP have physical fitness standards? You think maybe a CSP officer might have to chase a subject on foot?

  In any event, his life as he knows it is effectively over. He will probably avoid prison, but have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. And of course he will be untouchable in regard to any future employment in law enforcement. He will be lucky to get any job.

• July 27, 2008

  11:25 a.m.

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  dgarci1 writes:

  They should surgically fix all sex offenders. Seriously, cause once you let them out then their under the honor system to behave. Has anyone ever looked up the sex offender website to see who lives next store to them? Many of these people fail to register which makes it even scarier.

• July 27, 2008

  11:51 a.m.

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  Who_Me writes:

  That is an idiotic reaction. Information about offenders has been publicly available for years, well before it was posted on web sites. If you were that concerned about who lives next to you, you would already know. Must be part of the moronic crowd who needs everything jammed down their throat when it comes to public information. Well, do you know? How about a bill that makes it a misdemeanor if you can't name all offenders within a ten block radius of your address. Will you feel safer then? People who obviously failed to learn how to write should be registered as well. You are a threat to society because of your ignorance. That scares me, that your vote counts as much as mine.

• July 27, 2008

  12:59 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Who_Me, aren't you glad they tightened the registry laws, made it more readily available to everyone? In my zip code lives over 100 registered sex offenders, the vast percentage for crimes against children. How many of these child molesters pass by our child's school, on any given day? Why do you continiously defend them; every post on this subject, you want to have us convicts treat them more humane, did he treat the child humane? You want to forgive them and have society accept them. Now it's the registry that bothers you. If all else fails in your arguement, a personal attack on grammar on a most informal blog. I only have an 8th grade education, so my apology for my poor writting skills; I can use great improvement in this area. I am glad to know exactly where these sex offenders live, glad to have thier picture so I am aware what they look like. If society is going to love them as you do Who_me, and keep returning them to society to repeat thier incurable perversion with our children, I think the playing field should be even more in favor of the public having knowledge. Remember your last post on registered sex offenders where you fantasized about the Sex Offender seeking retribution on society by running bikers over, and burning the houses of those who want them to truly pay for thier crime with the same mercy they showed the child? Seems you have quite an affinity for thier welfare, is there a reason why that you wish to share? Maybe like the question you asked me, did one of your family members commit this crime? I answered you when I told you that individual would be dead from that day forward, no forgiveness, my remaining children and grandchildren, along with the children of others would take presidence. Why do you have such compassion for the child rapist? As for my grammer, I enjoy reading Hawthorne, but I could never write like him. Matter of fact, if it weren't for a hack giving me a Bible as a kid in my cell, you'd suffer worse. Perhaps you should avoid reading those who are such a grave problem for you. Thier opinion could never be as important as a finely educated gentleman as yourself. I believe some are educated beyond thier intelligence, I read thier job applications everyday. Fantastic educations, you should see the money these applicants spent on education: why do they want to schlep for someone else like us? Why do they come asking a 8th grade, uneducated, felon like me, for a job in one of my families many businesses is beyond me. Try to help them if I can, hope they don't hold my family's lack of formal education against us.

• July 27, 2008

  1:15 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Who_Me, how about this: by the time your kid finishes college deep in debt, we'll have schooled our grandchildren to run a multi-million dollar empire in that same given time. I am doing that now, as I school the third generation. Only my oldest daughter will have a college education; she graduates medical school next May. I love her, it was her choice. Maybe she can write her papa's posts someday, so you'll have less to complain about. The college here in Denver asked us if we'd come share our business success with thier students, what could they possible see in us. They should go to people educated like you!

• July 27, 2008

  1:51 p.m.

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  Who_Me writes:

  I am not defending "them" or anyone else. It doesn't matter if anyone here forgives them or not - forgiveness can only be granted by a victim. I believe there should be punishment, meted out by society via the legal system, not by vigilante justice.

  I would prefer that lawmakers more spend time and resources on education and prevention rather jumping on the "look at me, I'm tough(er) on crime" political gambit. The true pedophiles/threats to society - representing the vast minority of cases - deserve the attention and increased scrutiny. Repeat offenders - strike two should be enough. Some of the more heinous strike one offenders should be life too.

  The one-size-fits-all paint brush diverts money and resources away from better causes (as mentioned). Should every murderer be written off from society forever? Like the Lockup (on MSNBC) guy said, "heck, at least my victim is still alive." Can you say the same?

  If someone were that concerned about who his or her neighbors are, don't you think that person would have known long ago if there were a (real or not) threat living nearby? Why jump on the bandwagon now? If you really cared that much about the issue, you would have been proactive enough to have already found out the information. Because someone likes to fuel the hysteria bandwagon via the Internet? That's my point - make educated and informed decisions.

  The latest and greatest witch hunt bandwagon is doing nothing to stop cases like Deputy Dog's in this story. The vast majority of offenders are friends, family and not from stranger danger. The registry is a sham, or shame, depending upon your perspective. Where are the wife beaters and drug dealers? Or murderers? Where do you draw the line?

  As for the writing, I really don't care how someone writes. I will not cut any slack on ignorant or illogical comments. Who is the "they" who should perform castration? What honor system? If someone wants to highlight their ignorance, they're fair game for rebuttal.

• July 27, 2008

  1:54 p.m.

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  HolierThanThou writes:

  This sends a terrible message to 13 and 14-year old girls: if you're driving and a state trooper tries to pull you over, run!

• July 27, 2008

  2:31 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Who_Me, first on this issue, an informed public, better access to information, can only make society safer from the sex offender's strike. Second, no one resource is more valuable than a child. A child is the future of the world created. Money is better put to helping our future, children should recieve the Lion's share over the rest of all humanity's needs. Society's correctional resources are so strained, the bulk of law is truly in the hands of you and me. Law enforcement truly does rely on the citizen to help with thier job: policing America. All societies have those that are preditory upon those weaker, (I see it in business every day LOL). A better, more readily informed citizen, especially in concern over the whereabouts of the sex offender, can be quite valuable to society as a whole. If spotted on a playground with a puppy, like one has been publisized for doing here in Colorado, someone will step up for the kids and inquire of this man until law enforcement can take over questioning the convicted sex offender. I know, you were happy the father was charged for confronting the child rapist, with his puppy dog, standing at schools and young children's sporting events. Some of us are glad the resources were spent, so this father could readily intercept what has proven itself to be a threat to children that were present. Lastly, I can bear the shameful grammer errors you chastise, I, however get bored with shallow complaints, pointing out those errors. Instead I always tried to grasp and comprehend the thought being related by the author. I met some real brilliant people in life; educated is a matter for fools to credentialize thier own insecurities in this area. If you need college, by all means go. Wish we all could, since as you say, Who_Me, we all vote. I wish I could have gone to college, but then I always wanted a citizenship to Monaco.

• July 27, 2008

  2:46 p.m.

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  Who_Me writes:

  I was referring to dgarci1. Sorry if you took that personally.

• July 27, 2008

  3:09 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  My fault, Who_Me, As you stated, "I would bust glass on him." Dgarcia 1, you found you a huckleberry...

• July 27, 2008

  3:55 p.m.

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  Darwin writes:

  A little worked up are you mymilehi? Wow, shouting and all. What insight do you have that the "high ranking judo official" and the CSP trooper are conservatives and not left wing nuts (or somewhere in between)? Show us the proof. More to the point is the fact that criminals come from all walks of life. BTW, the judo official has been accused of...but not yet convicted. Do you not believe in the justice system that says a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. Are you judge, jury, and executioner, if so, that is your right (to think so), but most of us will wait for the case to go through the justice system.

• July 27, 2008

  8:07 p.m.

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  JonBen writes:

  You have to wonder what in the world is going on in the minds of these people - men and women - who seem to be BEGGING to get caught exploiting kids: the teachers who have sex with students, the men who get caught in those internet stings that are so obvious that only a crazed idiot would fall for them... This is more than "just" sexual hunger, or whatever. These people are TRYING to ruin their own lives, it seems.

  I don't feel sorry for them. It's just weird.