A 20-year-old Durango man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for stealing multiple cars and taking them for a joyride last December, according to authorities.
Durango Police Detective Christopher Thompson said Thursday that Brett Pugh was given the jail sentence for stealing multiple cars in one night. He pleaded guilty Sept. 1 to aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree, a Class 5 felony. Pugh was arrested Dec. 19.
District Attorney Christian Champagne said Pugh has already completed his jail sentence, and he will now begin a deferred judgment and sentence for a period of 18 months. Deferred judgments are typically offered to low-level offenders to avoid conviction and are attached with probation-like requirements.
Pugh must also pay $4,777.19 in restitution, along with court costs, fines and fees.
It was unclear Thursday morning what penalties It was unclear Thursday morning what penalties Pugh may face for a January explosion at the Brookside Motel.
He was charged with two offenses: suspicion of reckless endangerment and being in possession of marijuana, which is illegal for anyone younger than 21.
Authorities say Pugh, along with friend Christian Holtsoi, 18, caused an explosion at the motel, 2331 Main Ave., on Jan. 1 while using butane to extract hash oil from marijuana.
The explosion blew out two of three windows in the room, and the only reason the third window did not break was because it was open, authorities said at the time.
“We’re just fortunate that no one was injured in that room or an adjacent room,” Durango Police Cmdr. Ray Shupe said at the time of the incident. “It could have gone pretty bad as far as a structure fire and all kinds of things happening.”
It was unclear Wednesday afternoon what penalties Holtsoi faces.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
Correction: A previous story incorrectly indicated that Brett Pugh received the jail sentence for his connection to an explosion he is suspected of causing at the Brookside Motel in January.
