Regional Briefs: Nov. 20, 2009

Univ. of Northern Colorado fraternity sanctioned

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - A fraternity is appealing a ruling that stripped it of its ties with the University of Northern Colorado following allegations of hazing.

University spokesman Nate Haas says Delta Chi is appealing the “loss of recognition” ruling this week by the Office of the Dean of Students.

Haas says a review found violations of the student code of conduct. He didn't give details but said violations concerned hazing, alcohol use, and physical or verbal abuse endangering someone's health or safety.

Barring a successful appeal, the fraternity can't reapply to become affiliated with the university until spring 2013.

Karl Grindel, Delta Chi's assistant executive director, did not immediately return messages Wednesday from the Greeley Tribune.

Charges against Vail shooter to be filed Monday

VAIL, Colo. — Prosecutors will file charges Monday against Richard “Rossi” Moreau in the killing of a Carbondale man at Vail's Sandbar, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said Thursday.

Police say Moreau, 63, of Vail killed Gary Bruce Kitching, a physician, and injured three others in the Nov. 7 shooting.

Monday is the deadline that Judge Katharine T. Sullivan gave prosecutors for filing charges.

Prosecutors had said they would pursue first-degree murder charges, but Hurlbert said Thursday that they have not finalized which charges will be filed. Multiple charges are likely, Hurlbert said.

On Thursday, Sullivan granted a motion from Hurlbert asking that search-warrant affidavits be sealed.

“Right now, we're trying to protect the integrity of the investigation,” Hurlbert said.

A register of court actions shows the affidavit in support of a search warrant filed Tuesday involves the cell phone of Darlene Hoffman. Hoffman has described herself as a friend and former psychologist of the suspect. A 2000 police report described her as Moreau's girlfriend.

Public defender Reed Owens, who is representing Moreau, has filed for a gag order in the case. Sullivan has yet to rule on the motion. Owens could not be reached by phone Thursday afternoon.

Moreau is scheduled for arraignment Dec. 1 at the courthouse in Eagle. He remained in the Eagle County Jail on Thursday.

Stiegler hurts left knee in giant slalom training

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) - U.S. skier Resi Stiegler injured her left knee when she crashed after hooking a gate during giant slalom training Thursday.

The extent of her injury isn't yet known.

Stiegler was taken off the mountain on a sled and loaded into an ambulance at the base of Copper Mountain. She was transported to the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic at the Vail Valley Medical Center for evaluation.

“It's hard for us when any of the kids get hurt. We take it very, very personally,” U.S. women's coach Jim Tracy said.

The 24-year-old Stiegler has been hampered by injuries during the past few seasons. She crashed in Lienz, Austria, in December 2007, fracturing her left arm and damaging ligaments in her right knee.

Stiegler, of Jackson Hole, Wyo., returned in February and finished 19th in the slalom at the world championships. She fractured her foot a few weeks later.

“I hate to use that old cliche that it's sport and these things happen, but the reality is that it does,” Tracy said. “You try to provide everything, safety-wise for them. She's got great coaches, work on all the right things. But these things do happen.”