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Aurora GOP activist fined in plea deal

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 23, 2008 at 11:23 a.m.

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A GOP activist who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor tax charges received a year's probation and was fined $3,450 during his appearance Monday in U.S. District Court.

The case involving Scott Shires, 55, of Aurora, has attracted Democratic attention because of Shires' ties to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer.

Shires once worked for Octane International, a firm owned by Parker businessman William Orr, who was convicted last month of multiple fraud and other counts. The U.S. attorney's office said Orr misled investors and falsified documents to obtain a $3.6 million federal grant to study alternative fuels.

As part of a plea agreement, Shires testified at Orr's trial and pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges of failing to file corporate tax returns on behalf of Octane.

Shires' attorney, Nathan Chambers, said in court Monday that Shires invested more than $100,000 in Orr's venture and lost it all.

"There is no dispute that Scott Shires is a victim of William Orr's shenanigans," Chambers said, and the prosecution concurred.

Chambers also pointed out that U.S. Judge Lewis Babcock, who presided over Orr's trial, praised Shires' candidness.

"Mr. Shires has given testimony both favorable to the government, unfavorable to the defense, unfavorable to the government, and favorable to the defense," Babcock said May 5.

". . . He agreed to testify honestly and truthfully. I've observed him under oath, and I think he's done his best to do just that."

Shires, a West Point graduate, has no previous criminal record.

"I have no doubt that I will not see you again," Judge Marcia Krieger said.

Shires has worked on a number of Republican campaigns. In 2004, he volunteered on Schaffer's U.S. Senate campaign, and his firm was hired by the state Board of Education in 2006, while Schaffer served on the board, to handle campaign finance filings.

It was Shires who recruited Schaffer to serve on a nonprofit board that Orr created to administer the grant. Schaffer resigned in March 2005, after learning that Orr was under investigation.

Comments

  • June 23, 2008

    12:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jctf writes:

    I will repete what I said in an earlier article:

    I know the people in this article and the situation. This is a good example of people trusting the founder and agreeing to support him (Bill Orr) and then he lies to them and does a lot of shady things behind their backs. I know that both Scott and Schaffer had no knowledge of what Orr was doing, and to speculate otherwise simply shows how people are willing to rip people apart because of their own personal political bias.

    Those that throw out their attacks in ignorance are shameful and show they have no personal ethics since they are willing to create lies for others misfortune for political reasons.

  • June 23, 2008

    1:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jonah writes:

    jctf said:

    "Those that throw out their attacks in ignorance are shameful and show they have no personal ethics since they are willing to create lies for others misfortune for political reasons."

    I totally agree, and therefore BOB SCHAFFER IS SHAMEFUL AND HAS NO PERSONAL ETHICS. I have been the victim of one of his personal attacks based solely on my private, political beliefs. I was harassed at my employment and at home by neo-con goons who were doing the bidding of Schaffer. He is not worthy of public office in our state, or any state for that matter.

  • June 23, 2008

    1:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    zippy66 writes:

    Jonah said:

    "I have been the victim of one of his personal attacks based solely on my private, political beliefs. I was harassed at my employment and at home by neo-con goons who were doing the bidding of Schaffer."

    I didn't know that Bob Schaffer was a union boss! Did he confiscate your dues money and threaten your employment too?

  • June 23, 2008

    1:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    zivo24 writes:

    Hmm....

    Isn't it funny that all the neo-cons questioned Obama's judgement because of his association with his minister...but where are all their rants now about Shaffer and his association with these now convicted criminals, or his ties to the oil and gas industry that is gouging us?

    Apparently, as long as you have an (R) after your name, your judgement is never questioned.

    That's why we have a draft dodging president and vice president who are both completely devoid of conscience.

  • June 23, 2008

    2:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LingLingfor_prez writes:

    Zivo,
    They are all lousy to me.

  • June 23, 2008

    4:35 p.m.

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    LoFat writes:

    Now may we hear about the two ranking Democrat Senators who are on the Senate Banking Committee who gave Greentree Financial special consideration on a possible bail-out for sweet-heart 30-year home loans at 4.5%? One was seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination. Or is the vilifying and flagellation held in reserve for Republicans only?

  • June 23, 2008

    5:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LoFat writes:

    YES, as in it is for Repubs only?

  • June 24, 2008

    8:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    davies writes:

    I'm George W. Bush, and I approved this message. >;-)