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MusicFest attendee arrested after base-area brawl

Matt Stensland
Cody Austen Geldard
geldard

— A brawl last week between a group of Kansans and Texans has resulted in one arrest.

A 24-year-old Texas man was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of second-degree assault related to a fight that occurred two nights previous in Torian Plum Plaza at the base of Steamboat Ski Area.

Cody Austen Geldard admitted to police that he kicked a man in the head during the fight, according to a court affidavit completed by Steamboat Springs Police Department Detective Jerry Stabile.



“Cody said he was sorry he kicked the guy and said that he knew it was wrong,” Stabile states in the affidavit.

Police seized Geldard’s steel-toed boots that he said he was wearing during the fight.



According to the affidavit, the owner of a nearby business witnessed the fight and told police, “The guy kicked the man that was on the floor with such force that blood spattered on his pant leg.”

Kris Rubio, 27, was identified as the victim. He originally is from Kansas but now lives in Penrose, Stabile said. Rubio was treated at Yampa Valley Medical Center for multiple facial fractures he sustained during the fight, which took place early Friday. He was released from YVMC later Friday.

Police think members of the two groups of people visiting Steamboat for MusicFest had gotten into another fight earlier that night, also in Torian Plum Plaza.

Police did not identify Geldard as a suspect until Saturday, when a friend of the victim saw him at the MusicFest tent and called police.

Stabile said Tuesday that the incident still is under investigation and others may be arrested.

As of Tuesday morning, the Routt County District Attorney’s Office had not filed charges against Geldard. He was released Monday afternoon after posting $10,000 bond and is due to return to court at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24.

A message left with a Steamboat attorney thought to be representing Geldard was not immediately returned Tuesday.

— To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247 or email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com


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