Commission hopeful faces charges in traffic set-to

Republican county commission candidate Christopher Trainor has been charged with first-degree burglary and other offenses by the Jefferson County district attorney’s office in connection with a traffic incident in Golden last July.
Trainor also has been charged with menacing, false imprisonment and criminal mischief. The burglary charge, which is a class 3 felony, could carry a non-mandatory prison sentence of between four and 12 years, DA’s spokeswoman Pam Russell said.
A preliminary hearing is set for March 6 at the Jeffco Courts and Administration Building, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden.
Trainor, under the advice of his attorney, told the Courant that he was pleading not guilty to the charges and had no further comment. He did not say whether he would continue to run for the commission seat.
During the incident in Golden on July 10, 2011, Trainor and his wife were riding his motorcycle when a vehicle drove past at a speed Trainor considered too fast. Trainor then reportedly followed the vehicle to a private residence.
The DA is accusing Trainor of illegally walking into a private garage and threatening the driver. Trainor told Golden police he simply followed the man to explain to him that he was driving in a dangerous manner.
Trainor registered as an official candidate for the District 2 county commissioner seat Jan. 17, and is one of two Republicans running for the position; the seat is currently held by term-limited Democrat Kevin O’Malley.
Trainor’s opponent, Thomas Hayden, said voters should be aware of the charges against Trainor. He said Trainor is no longer a viable county commission candidate.
According to police and district attorney records, Trainor told law enforcement the vehicle’s driver drove past him at 60 mph. He decided to follow the driver to tell him how dangerous his driving was and that Trainor was almost hit.
According to the DA, Trainor parked his motorcycle across the street, told his wife to stay there, entered the victim’s garage and removed his helmet as if to swing it at the driver. The victim told police that Trainor forcefully held the driver’s door shut with his hands and knee.
Trainor told police he only tapped on the window and “may have used his thigh or knee to hold the door shut.”
The police report said once the driver got out of the car, he grabbed a hammer from a toolbox because he felt threatened. Trainor walked away, returned to his motorcycle and left, which was observed by neighbors.
The driver took down the motorcycle’s license plate number and gave it to police. Officers reported handprints and dents on the vehicle’s door.

Contact Ian Neligh at couranteditor@evergreenco.com, and check www.clearcreek
courant.com for updates and breaking news.