The Penrose man who was arrested Aug. 1 after a multi-agency, weeks-long investigation and a standoff appeared Wednesday in Fremont County District Court for filing of charges.
James Ryan Neeley, 39, was wanted on several charges stemming from El Paso County, and he faces one new felony charge in Fremont County.
On July 24, the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to an address in Colorado Springs to investigate an act of domestic violence. The investigation resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant for Neeley.
Information stemming from the domestic violence investigation revealed that he was in possession of a conversion device used to transform a semi-automatic firearm into a machinegun. Further information also suggested Neeley was in possession of additional firearms in violation of state and federal law because Neeley previously has been convicted of multiple felony crimes.
In response to the firearms allegations, the Armed Violent Offender task force comprised of detectives and agents from CSPD, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Corrections/Division of Parole, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations continued the firearms investigation and secured a search warrant for Neeley’s residence located in the 1300 Block of L Street in Penrose.
On Aug. 1, the task force requested the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team execute the search warrant at the L Street address. During the search, Fremont County Sheriff’s Detective Stephen Krueger located a blue 2022 Triumph Street Twin motorcycle inside a detached garage. After running the VIN number, Krueger learned that the motorcycle had been reported stolen June 16 near the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs. The motorcycle is valued at about $12,000, according to the police report.
Intelligence revealed Neeley was present at the residence but barricaded himself inside upon police arrival.
After several hours of negotiation and the introduction of chemical agents into the residence, Neeley surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. He was treated for chemical exposure at a local hospital and subsequently booked into the Fremont County Detention Center.
He is charged with theft, a Class 5 felony, for the motorcycle.
In El Paso County, Neeley is charged in an arrest warrant with aggravated robbery, a Class 3 felony, which presumptively can carry between 4-12 years in DOC, but if aggravated circumstances are found, he could be sentenced to as much as 24 years in DOC; felony menacing – a Class 5 felony – that presumptively can carry between 1-3 years in DOC, but if aggravating circumstances are found, he could be sentenced to as much as six years in DOC; possession of a weapon by a previous offender, a Class 5 felony, which also carries between one to three years in DOC, but if aggravating circumstances are found, he can be sentenced to as much as six years in DOC; and misdemeanor harassment, a Class 1 misdemeanor, if convicted could be sentenced to up to 364 days in county jail.
Judge Michael Meyrick on Wednesday set bond at $10,000 cash-only. Neeley is slated to appear for a preliminary hearing Aug 17.
