Michael David Czeponis of Nederland was convicted of nine counts including criminal mischief, sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, and cruelty to animals during a trial in the Boulder County Justice Center that took place from August 22 to August 31, 2022.

On Friday, November 18, 2022, the judge sentenced Czeponis for those crimes after statements by the prosecution and the defense.

The judge sentenced Czeponis on count one for 24 years to life, on count two for six years to life, on count 10, 18 years to life, and on count 11, 18 years to life, to be served consecutively. On count three he received 12 months. He received credit for his time in jail since the trial in August.

Counts one, two, six, 10 and 11 were for sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust in a pattern of abuse. He was also found guilty of count three, criminal mischief costing more than $1,000 and less than $5,000.

The judge ordering these sentences, Nancy W. Salomone, was not the judge who heard the trial. Judge Norma Angelica Sierra had presided over the trial. Salomone said she has read all the notes from the trial and suggested that count one and six be merged.

The defense counsel, Mary Mulligan, pointed out typos in the presentence report. The people, represented by Michelle Sudano, pointed to the number of people sitting in back of her in support of justice. About 25 people filled the courtroom seats in back of her

Sudano said that the actions of the defendant and the abuse he put the children through were egregious. A couple of the issues stood out, such as how much the kids will have to deal with for years. There had been emotional abuse; one girl was 12 or 13 years of age when the abuse started and 15 years old when she started receiving text messages from Czeponis.

What he put these kids through is something this court should consider, Sudano added. This will be with them for a very long time. Sudano urged the harshest penalty because the majority of the children deserve to have him gone from their lives. Now away from Czeponis, some of the kids are doing well and one is in college.

Sudano recommended 56 years to life and restitution.

Defense counsel Mary Mulligan said that when Czeponis was a child he suffered a large amount of trauma. He has a mental disorder. His mother sat in the courtroom during the entire trial. If he is not sentenced, he would go live with her, Mulligan added. She doesn’t know how she will get by without him.

Czeponis has said he plans to continue learning and taking college classes and would like to get a job as a hospice worker. He also said he will save his speech.

The judge said Czeponis is responsible for what he had done. He abused the children physically and emotionally and isolated them for his own personal gain. It was harrowing, she added. Kids are vulnerable and it was a violation of all the trust they put in him. He had more authority than any other person in their lives.

The judge then announced the sentencing and said Czeponis is also required to register as a sex offender.