Charges Delayed for 3 Fugitive Siblings in Colorado

Aug. 11: Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, laughs at the Pueblo County Sherrif's Office detention center. (Pueblo Chieftain/AP)

PUEBLO, Colo. – Charges against three fugitive siblings captured in Colorado are on hold for another week after prosecutors decided Monday to charge the Dougherty gang in the county where the cross-country manhunt ended.

Two of the suspects -- Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26, and Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21 -- appeared in court in Pueblo County Monday. Along with their sister, Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, they face charges of attempted murder and assault for allegedly firing a semiautomatic weapon at officers during a short high-speed chase last Wednesday in southern Colorado.

The trio is accused of shooting at another officer in Florida and robbing a bank in Georgia. They're being held in Pueblo County, where the chase began after an officer spotted them last week in a stolen Subaru.

The brothers both appeared in yellow jumpsuits at the court appearance Monday, Dylan Dougherty Stanley with his right forearm in a cast. Lee Grace Dougherty was not in the courtroom, and there was no immediate explanation of where she was. Dylan spoke quietly to an attorney at one point. Ryan walked through the courtroom without sitting. Neither addressed the judge.

The Dougherty chase ended last week a few miles south in Huerfano County, where the Doughertys allegedly shot at pursuing officers before they ran over stop sticks placed by authorities and blew a tire on Interstate 25. No officers were hit, though Lee Grace Dougherty was shot in the leg after she allegedly aimed a gun at an officer.

Assistant Pueblo District Attorney James Coursey told a Pueblo County judge Monday that the case will be turned over to Huerfano County.

"We've spent a great deal of time discussing this, and we believe the more appropriate venue is Huerfano," Coursey said. Defense attorneys agreed. Coursey did not elaborate when asked by reporters to explain the decision.

The district attorney for Huerfano County, Frank Ruybalid, said the decision to pursue charges in his district was reached following a meeting Friday with state and local authorities as well as the FBI. He said his reading of the law so far shows that people should be tried where the evidence shows the offenses occurred.

Ruybalid would not discuss other details of the evidence, citing a limited gag order requested by the lawyers of two of the siblings.

He said a judge has given him until Aug. 22 to file charges against the Doughertys, given the complicated nature of the case.

It was not immediately clear whether the siblings would be moved to the Huerfano jail in Walsenburg or appear there by video conference from Pueblo, where they're being held on bonds of $1.25 million each. Ruybalid said the siblings could be held in Pueblo County because the county has more resources to provide security.

At Monday's hearing, a lawyer for Ryan Dougherty asked the judge to request medical attention for his client. The court-appointed lawyer, Mike Emmons, said he may file paperwork asking for medical attention for Ryan Dougherty in the Pueblo County jail

"There was a large lump on his head. He believes he may have a concussion," Emmons said. He did say whether the possible injury happened during the chase or later.