South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015 Page 19

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Events

opportunity to hear from Brauchler, attorney for the 18th Judicial District. Brauchler was the prosecutor in the James Holmes Aurora Theater trial. Brauchler said there is a difference between a person who is clinically and legally insane and one who is determined to wreak destruction on the world. In the Aurora Theater shooting, evidence pointed toward the desire for the later. Brauchler said he serves a very diverse judicial district. The 18th Judicial District encompasses four counties, a correctional facility, nearly 1 million people - the most populous district in the state - cattle ranches and a military base. He said if there is something going on in the region, judicially, it affects his District, and unfortunately that happened at the Aurora Century 16 movie theater on July 20, 2012. It was during the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” when a gunman dressed as if a SWAT team member, with multiple guns, and other weapons, entered the theater and wreaked havoc. “When evil showed up there, it had been planning to do what it was going to do for over 2-½ months,” he said. The assailant, later identifi ed as

DA discusses Holmes trial with local RepublicansContinued From Page 1

George Brauchler 18th Judicial District Attorney

James Holmes, was armed with an AR-15 style assault rifl e and 700 rounds of ammunition, two Glocks and 22 magazines, two shotguns and a gas mask. The rifl e ammunition was steel penetrator, and he carried two canisters of tear gas. He had taken a Vicodin shortly before the assault so he wouldn’t feel anything “if the police manhandle him.” “Evil showed up to the back entrance to the Theater No. 9 in Aurora with a While this was going on, Holmes' apartment was wired to explode. Brauchler said FBI offi cials from Quantico called it the most elaborate setup they had ever seen. “They said ‘this was incredibly innovative and complicated,’” he said. Brauchler said the trip wires and home-made explosives were so intricate and offi cials considered blowing up the building because they weren’t sure how to safely enter the apartment and dismantle the explosive maze. When the case went to trial, Brauchler was still new to the title of District Attorney. He decided the case needed his hands-on involvement and he would not be one to watch it by television monitor in a corner offi ce. “I think it is such a moral decision,”

he said. “I knew I would be on that case.” Brauchler said he talked with his wife, his father whom he describes as the most Godly man he knows, and with his priest. He said the priest explained the church’s position on the death penalty. Brauchler then explained some of the details of the case, and almost convinced the priest of the death penalty. Brauchler said he knew if he could almost convince a priest, then he needed to follow the death penalty. He said there were 1,200 victims identifi ed in the incident. According to Brauchler, Holmes entered the theater with the intent as becoming

the greatest mass murder in history. “He went in there with the intention of killing 400 people,” he said. Brauchler addressed some of the rumors and misconceptions about Holmes. He said he was not partial to the movie shown that night. He would have adapted to any blockbuster movie in the theater. “There’s no connection between this guy and Batman, except it was a blockbuster,” he said. The DA added there is no proof Holmes chose this theater because it is a gun-free business either. Brauchler said Holmes went to nine different theaters prior to the incident. Each time he looked for available exits and how he could eliminate them as well as escape routes for himself. He said one of the common questions is what changes to gun laws might have on the assault. Brauchler said gun law changes would have had no impact on Holmes. “This guy was going to do something like this,” he said. “He wanted to be the greatest mass murder in history. I have no doubt about that.” The crime was designed to be bigger than it turned out, according to Brauchler. He said Holmes planned to sur-

vive. His fi rst purchases in planning the assault were protective gear, not guns. The apartment was intended to blow up minutes after leaving. Loud music was playing to entice a neighbor to open the unlocked door, which would then activate at least one of the trip wires. The carpet was soaked in gasoline; the odor masked with air fresheners. “That is not insane,” Brauchler said. “That’s evil genius.” Brauchler said in his fi ve trips to regional shooting ranges, Holmes became profi cient at everything except cleaning a jammed gun. He said a 100-round drum jammed, then 40-round clips. Crediting divine intervention, Brauchler said these mechanical failures saved many lives. Brauchler credited the fi rst responders for saving many of the victims. He said in some instances victims were put into patrol cars and transported to a trauma center, dropped off and the offi cer returned for more victims. Brauchler said he kept the public updated on the cost of the trial. He said receipts so far total about $1.5 million. About $800,000 went to employees who serviced victims, he said. Much of the costs were covered by grants, resulting in minimal impact on his budget.