Special prosecutor appointed in Rep. Lori Saine gun investigation

DENVER – The 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office will handle any possible charges, if any, police decide to pursue in the gun case involving state Rep. Lori Saine, it was announced Monday.

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann asked the office, based in Boulder County, to take the case as special prosecutors because she had previously worked with Saine, a Weld County Republican, when both were state lawmakers.

Denver Police Department officers arrested Saine last Tuesday afternoon at Denver International Airport. According to a probable cause statement for her arrest, Saine “knowingly” brought a loaded 9mm handgun into the security checkpoint inside a carry-on bag.

There were four rounds in the magazine but none in the chamber, according to the police record.

The American Legislative Exchange Council honored Saine Dec. 7 with an award for Public Sector State Chair of the Year two days after her arrest.

DPD says Saine is one of two people arrested for having a gun inside the checkpoint over the past year, despite 106 police investigations on such matters.

Police forwarded a pre-filed charged of introduction of a firearm into a transportation facility, which is a class 6 felony in Colorado that carries sentencing guidelines of between 1 and 18 months and a fine of between $1,000 and $100,000 if a person is found guilty.

Saine was advised that she was being investigated on the charge in a Denver court last Wednesday. Afterward, a judge granted her a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. She was released from jail hours later.

McCann’s office said Monday that since McCann and Saine had previously worked together on passing a 2015 DUI law, “in the interest of justice and to ensure fair and impartial consideration of the matter,” that McCann “determined the involvement of another district attorney’s office would be appropriate.”

Once DPD finishes its case, it will be handed over to the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office to determine possible formal charges.