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Boulder County DA Will Not File Charges Against Peck and Christensen

Over the last few months, Longmont City Council has been wrapped in controversy centering on concerns that Polly Christensen and Joan Peck threatened to interfere with OUR Center's funding unless the center agreed not to seek Boulder County funding for Coordinated Entry programs.
Longmont City Council March 2019
Source: City Council Website

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Over the last few months, Longmont City Council has been wrapped in controversy centering on concerns that Polly Christensen and Joan Peck threatened to interfere with OUR Center's funding unless the center agreed not to seek Boulder County funding for Coordinated Entry programs.

An official inquiry was opened by the Boulder County District Attorney's office. "The District Attorney’s Office takes allegations of public corruption or misconduct by public officials very seriously," stated the DA's office in a press release.

Over two months the DA's office interviewed several individuals, all whom submitted voluntary interviews. That list includes Ms. Rush, OUR Center Executive Director Marc Cowell, Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement Executive Director Joseph Zanovitch, Councilmember Peck, Councilmember Christensen, Councilmember Tim Waters, Longmont City Manager Harold Dominguez, Longmont Community Services Director Karen Roney, and Kevin Mulshine of HMS Developments.

Additionally, the DA's office examined public documents, watched recordings of Longmont City Council sessions, and reviewed hundreds of emails.

After a thorough investigation, the DA's Office states that "the District Attorney’s Office handles only criminal matters. And in all criminal matters, charges may be filed only if there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction at trial. Based on a
thorough review, we conclude that the District Attorney’s Office would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Councilmember Peck or Councilmember Christensen engaged in criminal conduct. Thus, no criminal charges will be filed against them."

OUR Center did withdraw their application for the Boulder County funding in question. The DA states "for reasons unrelated to, and independent from, communications with members of City Council."