What Happened at Tyler Boebert’s Advisement Hearing
Tyler Boebert appeared (remotely) before a Colorado judge for a formal advisement hearing. No plea was entered. The judge made that explicit: “Today’s not the day where you plead guilty, not guilty, anything like that.”
The court advised him of five counts, all alleged to have occurred between January 1 and February 29, 2024:
Counts 1 and 2: Sexual exploitation of a child, both class 3 felonies. Count 1 alleges he knowingly caused, induced, or enticed a child to engage in explicit sexual conduct for the making of sexually exploitative material. Count 2 alleges possession with intent to deal, sell, or distribute such material. Each carries 4 to 12 years in the Department of Corrections, three years mandatory parole, a fine of up to $750,000, and mandatory sex offender registration under C.R.S. 16-22-103.
Count 3: Sexual exploitation of a child (accessing, viewing, possessing, or controlling sexually exploitative material, including video), a class 4 felony. Two to six years DOC, three years parole, $2,000 to $500,000 fine, sex offender registration.
Counts 4 and 5: Contributing to the delinquency of a minor, alleging he induced, aided, or encouraged a child to violate a felony victims rights act crime, namely sexual exploitation of a child. Two to six years DOC each, three years parole, $2,000 to $500,000 fine.
Boebert confirmed on the record that he understood the charges and penalties: “Yes, I do, Your Honor.”
The judge then entered a mandatory protection order naming two protected parties (not named in open court). Boebert must not harass, intimidate, retaliate against, or tamper with any victim or witness; must vacate and stay away from their home and any location where they are likely to be found; and must have no direct or indirect contact with them. He confirmed he had a copy of the order and understood its conditions. The hearing ended with the court setting the next court date.
The Judge issued an Order allowing us to post the video from the hearing. In addition, we made a transcript. Both can be viewed here:
About the Author
David B. Wheeler is the president and co-founder of American Muckrakers, the Western North Carolina accountability organization best known for helping end Madison Cawthorn’s congressional career in 2022, the rare instance in modern politics of a sitting incumbent losing his own primary because somebody bothered to do the homework. Since then, American Muckrakers has turned its attention to Lauren Boebert, Ken Paxton, and a growing roster of politicians who confuse public office with a personal ATM. He publishes accountability journalism at Muckrakers.Today.
Wheeler co-hosts the MUCK YOU! podcast with Col. Moe Davis, the retired Air Force colonel and former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay. He is the author of Color the Crooks, Case File #001: Lauren Boebert, the coloring book James Carville endorsed with the words “She earned every damn page. Buy it.” *He is also the founder of VoteROI.com, a political data company built on 86.9 million FEC records that helps donors figure out where their money actually goes, which, as this essay makes clear, is a question more people should be asking.
Before all that, Wheeler spent three decades in politics, elections, and event production in more than 50 countries on all seven continents. Along the way he lowered the Mississippi River, produced the first professional sports event ever held in Moscow, and produced the first marathon ever run on Antarctica. His political education started early: Page for the Iowa House of Representatives, intern in the United States Senate, and National Committeeman for Iowa on the Young Democrats of America national committee. David was the lead advance guy for then Senator Obama in Iowa City, Iowa, in October of 2006, and then again during his presidential announcement in Waterloo, Iowa, in February 2007. And, he has some good stories from both experiences.
An Iowa native and proud Hawkeye, Wheeler is a father of three and lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina, in the district Chuck Edwards is currently failing. He believes sunlight is the best disinfectant, filings don’t lie, and the loudest guy in the room is usually the one with the most to hide.
And, Beetlejuice Boebert claimed she was going to sue him. She never did, so David sued her in Federal Court in Denver and partially won.
Paid for by American Muckrakers PAC II (americanmuckrakers.com). Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Donations made to American Muckrakers, Inc. are not deductible for federal or state tax purposes.
This publication is First Amendment protected speech and commentary on matters of public concern. All individuals referenced are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. No portion of this publication may be used for commercial purposes without the written consent of American Muckrakers PAC, Inc. and David B. Wheeler.