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Man pleads guilty to break-in

Brian Fatjo will get no more than a year for ACZ lab vandalism

Christine Metz

A 25-year-old Hayden man pleaded guilty to a Sept. 7 break-in at ACZ Laboratories that caused more than $15,000 in damages.

Brian Fatjo appeared in District Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal trespass, a felony. As part of a plea agreement reached with the District Attorney’s Office, Fatjo will be given no more than one year in a correctional facility and two years probation.

Judge Michael O’Hara scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 2.



Fatjo is being held in the Routt County Jail on a $40,000 bond.

At Thursday’s arraignment, the District Attorney’s Office said the lab’s insurance company had $15,222 in claims from the break-in. ACZ had a $1,000 deductible, which Fatjo may have to pay in restitution.



On Sept. 7, Fatjo was charged with second-degree burglary and criminal mischief after police found him highly intoxicated outside of the lab on Downhill Drive. The lab had been vandalized.

Police found computer monitors thrown to the floor, glass bottles and beakers broken, and chemicals spilled on the floor. They also found a trail of blood, wet tennis shoes and socks, a pair of blue jeans with Fatjo’s wallet, checkbook and ID inside the building.

Outside, they found Fatjo laying in the grass wearing nothing but a T-shirt and boxer shorts. Police believed Fatjo had spilled chemicals on his clothing and made a 911 call inside the building.

Police believed Fatjo entered into a broken window and exited through a door near where he was found.

— To reach Christine Metz call 871-4229

or e-mail cmetz@steamboatpilot.com


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