Photo Courtesy of Mike Scheid
In a case that has stirred outrage and highlighted racial tensions, all charges have been dropped against a Black Colorado ranching couple who claimed they were the victims of racist terror inflicted by their White neighbors.
Nicole and Courtney Mallery, owners of a 640-acre ranch in rural Yoder, found themselves facing felony charges of stalking, tampering with a utility meter, and petty theft in connection with an ongoing dispute with a neighbor.
The Mallerys and their neighbor, Teresa Clark, had been embroiled in a long-standing feud over the ownership of Truckton Road, an easement that provided access to both properties. The Black couple asserted their ownership of the easement, which was the sole route to Clark’s property.
According to CBSNews, Nicole Mallery bravely spoke out about the racist attacks they endured, including being stopped, harassed, chased, and subjected to racial slurs spray-painted on their belongings.
“We are stopped. We are harassed. We are chased. We are followed. There’s been spray paint where they put (n-word) on items,” she said.
The situation escalated as both parties filed numerous restraining orders against each other. In an arrest affidavit, Clark alleged that the Mallerys had surveillance cameras pointed at her house and provided videos showing the couple driving behind her on the disputed roadway and stopping at her front gate. However, prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges, and the case record was sealed under Colorado law, which safeguards defendants when charges are dismissed.
While the dropping of charges is a positive outcome for the Mallerys, their fight for justice and accountability is far from over. The couple’s lawyer suggested that they file a lawsuit.
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Throughout the ordeal, the Mallerys also accused the El Paso Colorado County sheriff’s deputies of largely ignoring their complaints about White neighbors poisoning their animals, brandishing guns, and engaging in other racially motivated acts.
In response, the sheriff’s office released body-camera footage and reports. The department stated that they had received numerous calls from both parties accusing each other of crimes, highlighting the complexity and intensity of the situation.
The Mallerys’ attorneys called upon the district attorney’s and sheriff’s offices to conduct more comprehensive front-end investigations to minimize future injustices and ensure that the criminally accused are afforded the protections of the law.