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Rebecca Ann Butchko
A Grand Junction woman is accused of multiple felonies in connection with an alleged drive-by shooting at Pear Park in which her ex-boyfriend was the apparent target, authorities said Thursday.
Rebecca Ann Butchko, 21, faces more than 15 years in prison for the alleged misdeeds, based on state sentencing guidelines. She was arrested Wednesday evening and booked at Mesa County jail. Butchko is being held on $50,000 bond.
She is accused of five felonies including accessory to criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, accessory to criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree and accessory to criminal mischief.
Butchko also faces a related misdemeanor count in connection with the May 15 morning shooting in the 400 block of Apple Blossom Road.
Authorities allege that Ryan Michael Ricks, 28, was behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle when he pointed a handgun out the passenger side and fired one shot at the victim. About 45 minutes before the alleged shooting, Butchko apparently called the victims' home and said, “You're done,” according to an arrest warrant.
The victim, who was the ex-boyfriend of Butchko, was not injured in the shooting.
The victim told authorities he saw Ricks point the gun at him and “saw the muzzle flash of the gun being fired at him.” The victim said he hit the ground “trying to avoid being shot,” according to the arrest warrant.
A man believed to be a friend of the victim was also outside at the time of the shooting. He, too, avoided injury.
The bullet pierced a white vinyl fence on an adjacent property. The shooting apparently happened after the victim discovered the windows in his vehicle had been smashed while parked in front of the residence.
The shooting and vandalism incidents happened before 7:30 a.m. The bullet is believed to have come from a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Ricks was arrested one day later by Mesa County Sheriff's deputies in the 500 block of 32 1/2 Road, a short while after they spotted him in another vehicle that was driven by Butchko.
She apparently tried to elude the deputies by speeding away. Butchko then dropped off Ricks at another location before ditching the vehicle behind a house in the 3200 block of E 1/2 Road. She later admitted to helping cover up the crime during a conversation with Ricks who had called her from jail a couple of days after the incident, according to the affidavit.
Butchko, who was on probation for a felony theft at the time of her arrest, is set to appear in Mesa County District Court at 8:30 a.m. July 8.
Reach Wyatt Haupt Jr. at whaupt@gjfreepress.com.
Rebecca Ann Butchko, 21, faces more than 15 years in prison for the alleged misdeeds, based on state sentencing guidelines. She was arrested Wednesday evening and booked at Mesa County jail. Butchko is being held on $50,000 bond.
She is accused of five felonies including accessory to criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, accessory to criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree and accessory to criminal mischief.
Butchko also faces a related misdemeanor count in connection with the May 15 morning shooting in the 400 block of Apple Blossom Road.
Authorities allege that Ryan Michael Ricks, 28, was behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle when he pointed a handgun out the passenger side and fired one shot at the victim. About 45 minutes before the alleged shooting, Butchko apparently called the victims' home and said, “You're done,” according to an arrest warrant.
The victim, who was the ex-boyfriend of Butchko, was not injured in the shooting.
The victim told authorities he saw Ricks point the gun at him and “saw the muzzle flash of the gun being fired at him.” The victim said he hit the ground “trying to avoid being shot,” according to the arrest warrant.
A man believed to be a friend of the victim was also outside at the time of the shooting. He, too, avoided injury.
The bullet pierced a white vinyl fence on an adjacent property. The shooting apparently happened after the victim discovered the windows in his vehicle had been smashed while parked in front of the residence.
The shooting and vandalism incidents happened before 7:30 a.m. The bullet is believed to have come from a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun.
Ricks was arrested one day later by Mesa County Sheriff's deputies in the 500 block of 32 1/2 Road, a short while after they spotted him in another vehicle that was driven by Butchko.
She apparently tried to elude the deputies by speeding away. Butchko then dropped off Ricks at another location before ditching the vehicle behind a house in the 3200 block of E 1/2 Road. She later admitted to helping cover up the crime during a conversation with Ricks who had called her from jail a couple of days after the incident, according to the affidavit.
Butchko, who was on probation for a felony theft at the time of her arrest, is set to appear in Mesa County District Court at 8:30 a.m. July 8.
Reach Wyatt Haupt Jr. at whaupt@gjfreepress.com.
