S T E A M B O AT
TODAY
SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 19, 2009
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
FREE
®
Vol. 21, No. 225
RO U T T
C O U N T Y ’ S
DA I LY
N E W S PA P E R
S T E A M B O AT S P R I N G S
Orchestra opens today Guest soloist Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio to play concerto with her father Page 4
S T E A M B O AT S P R I N G S
Steamboat ranked 10th Ski Magazine survey puts ski area in top 10 overall, 1st for family programs Page 5
SPORTS
JOHN F. RUSSELL/STAFF
Steamboat Springs Investigator Nick Bosick uses his phone and computer to help track down fraud cases that affect the residents of Steamboat Springs. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States, Capt. Joel Rae said.
ID scams spreading
California man sentenced, released in identity theft of local man Zach Fridell
PILOT & TODAY STAFF
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Sailors now 3-0 Page 20
■ LOTTO
■ INDEX Briefs . . . . . . . . .10 Classifieds . . . . .26 Colorado. . . . . . .16 Comics . . . . . . . .24 Crossword . . . . .25 Happenings . . . . .7
When Lawrence Chiles wanted to buy an identity, it cost him $200 on a corner in East Los Angeles, he said in Routt County Court on Friday. Chiles, who had served 87 days in Routt County Jail, pleaded guilty to a Class 1 misdemeanor and was released with no additional fines or jail time in this case, though he faces additional charges in California.
Horoscope . . . . .24 Scoreboard. . . . .23 Sports. . . . . . . . .20 ViewPoints . . . . . .8 Weather . . . . . . .35 World . . . . . . . . .36
Friday night’s Cash 5 numbers: 8-18-21-23-31 Drawings are held Monday through Saturday.
“Any kind of ID, any state,” can be purchased on the corners, Chiles said. Chiles used the personal information he bought to open store accounts at home improvement stores in California to charge several large purchases. Chiles said Friday that he thought the identity belonged to someone who had died. The identity actually belongs to Steamboat Springs resident Chris Wening. Chiles pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a transaction device, a Class 1 misdemeanor
■ WEATHER
A storm in the afternoon. High of 68.
Page 35
punishable by six to 18 months in jail and $500 to $5,000 in fines. But according to the plea agreement, Chiles, 66, will not serve any additional time because of his failing health and more pending charges in California. Chiles reportedly was kept in Yampa Valley Medical Center on Saturday night because of an unspecified medical problem. He appeared in court in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank. Routt County Public Defender Sheryl Uhlmann said Chiles faces probation revocation in a
felony case in California and possibly more jail time. Chiles was scheduled to fly from Denver to California on Friday evening. Chiles used his chance to address the court during his sentencing to apologize to Chris Wening and his wife, Jamey Wening. “I would really like to apologize to you, sir,” Chiles said as he faced the Wenings. “You were supposed to be deceased; that’s what I was told.” See ID theft, page 14
■ THERE’S MORE ONLINE For around-the-clock updates, breaking local news and sports scores, videos, photos and an interactive community forum, visit www.steamboatpilot.com.