Lauren Boebert’s son gets 20 days in jail for identity theft

Tyler Boebert pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempting to commit identity theft related to a spree of vehicle break-ins committed in the Colorado city of Rifle in early 2024.GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CN) — A Colorado judge on Thursday sentenced the son of U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert to 20 days in jail with work release after he pleaded guilty to a single charge of attempting to commit identity theft related to a spree of vehicle break-ins committed in the Colorado city of Rifle in early 2024.“You don’t have the same freedom as other people your age because you have a son,” said Ninth Judicial District Judge Elise Myer. “I will give you credit because even though you have the Weld County case that you pleaded guilty to, you did your community service and the things you were supposed to do.”Tyler Boebert, 21, initially faced more than a dozen charges, including felony charges of criminal possession of ID documents and conspiracy to commit a felony.Rifle police began investigating when a local woman reported her car had been broken into on Feb. 20, 2024. Police found the victim’s debit card had been used at three gas stations, at a McDonald’s and at online fast-fashion store Shein to cover $717 worth of products. The card was finally rejected at a Starbucks.Police identified Boebert in security footage obtained from a Love’s truck stop in Parachute, Colorado, in which he was wearing a “Grit and Glory” hoodie. An accomplice wore a sweatshirt with the logo of Shooters Grill, a restaurant previously owned by Boebert’s mother.Citing Tyler Bobert’s youth and lack of criminal history, Ninth Judicial District Chief Judge John Neiley granted a deferred sentence for the identity theft conviction last year.Boebert, however, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of child abuse and neglect, resulting in convictions that violated the terms of his probation. The 22nd Judicial District Attorneys Office in Weld County pursued the charges after Boebert’s young son was found wandering unattended on two occasions.Last week, a judge sentenced Boebert to 20 days in jail with work release, stipulating that the sentence could run concurrently with his sentence in Garfield County.Defense attorney Joseph Gavaldon, told the court his client’s toddler had been in a “Lewis and Clark” phase when he escaped the family home. Gavaldon also detailed the steps Boebert has taken to ensure his son is properly supervised at all times.“Since the last two incidents, he has made every effort to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Gavaldon said.On behalf of her son, Lauren Boebert urged the court to impose a sentence that would allow her son to continue working and providing for his child. The Republican congresswoman currently represents Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District but previously resided in Rifle, where she represented the Third Congressional District.In addressing the Garfield County court on Thursday, Tyler Boebert apologized for his actions and said he accepted responsibility for the consequences.“Rebuilding trust takes time and consistent action,” Boebert said. “My goal moving forward is to become a more dependable father.”Deputy District Attorney Sarah Nordgaard urged the court to impose a jail sentence.In addition to jail time, Myer ordered Boebert to complete a life skills class and two years of supervised probation.This does not conclude Tyler Boebert’s entanglement with the law. In August, prosecutors also charged Boebert with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after he was accused of posting sexually explicit pictures of a then-17-year-old in 2024 during a time that overlaps with the identity theft conviction.Addressing how the new charges influenced her sentencing calculation, Myer said, “It doesn’t concern me, he’s presumed innocent.”Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads