John Scarffe, Boulder County. A Boulder County judge upheld the charges filed against a 43-year-old man in connection with an explosion at a Nederland home over the summer. On November 19, 2020, Jason Korte was charged with two counts of first degree arson, fourth degree arson, possession of marijuana concentrates with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug felony, unlawful extraction of marijuana concentrate, two counts of child abuse, five counts of possession of an explosive device, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Korte, who is free on $100,000 bond, was eligible for a preliminary hearing on the arson, distribution, extraction, child abuse and firearms charges, in which a judge would have to determine whether there was enough probable cause for the case to move forward.

After a three-day hearing, Boulder County Judge Kristy Martinez upheld all of the charges, noting that the burden of proof for a preliminary hearing was lower than at a trial and that the law required her to make all inferences in the light most favorable to the prosecution.

Korte is now set for an arraignment hearing on Jan. 15, at which time he could enter a plea to either resolve his case or go to trial.

(Originally published in the November 26, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)