A Gem Village man accused of conspiring with his son to rob a Durango medical marijuana dispensary formally was charged Tuesday.
Joe Griffith, 44, formally was charged with one count of aggravated robbery of a controlled substance, one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of attempted aggravated robbery Tuesday in the 6th District Court of Suzanne Carlson.
Griffith was represented by Durango lawyer Chris Trimble. Deputy District Attorney Reid Stewart is prosecuting the case.
Griffith is due before Judge Jeffrey Wilson on Feb. 26 for a preliminary demand hearing, where he’ll have the option of scheduling a preliminary hearing. In a preliminary hearing, prosecutors must present enough evidence to show a crime was committed and Griffith was connected to it.
Tuesday afternoon, Griffith’s wife, Bobbie Kay, took out a permanent restraining order against him from La Plata County Magistrate Sarah Law. The order covers her and her minor daughter, Cybelle.
The only contact Joe Griffith can have with either is through an attorney. He was not in Law’s court Tuesday.
Another daughter, Alysa Rhiann Griffith, 21, who had filed for a permanent restraining order against her father, didn’t attend the session, allowing a temporary restraining order to expire.
Aggravated robbery is a Class 3 felony, and robbery of a controlled substance is a Class 2 felony. Both attempted aggravated robbery charges are Class 4 felonies. The lower the number, the more serious the offense.
According to police and arrest affidavits, Griffith, 44, pretended to be a customer at the Rocky Mountain High Dispensary on Jan. 31 while his son, Logan Griffith, 19, in a dark-colored hoodie and wearing a ski mask, wielded a handgun to take about $3,000 and a significant amount of marijuana. Logan was arrested by Durango police less than a mile away.
Joe Griffith is being held on $100,000 bail. Logan Griffith is being held on $50,000 bail and is expected to appear in court Feb. 26 to hear charges filed against him.
Both suspects are former employees of The Durango Herald where they worked in maintenance.
daler@ durangoherald.com
