Editor’s Note: Law Week Colorado edits court opinion summaries for style and, when necessary, length.
On May 17, 2024, in Douglas County District Court, a jury found Matthew Krob guilty of two counts of sexual assault, two counts of unlawful sexual contact, second-degree assault, third-degree assault and telephone obstruction.
Based on Krob’s convictions, the Colorado Supreme Court suspended his license to practice law on an interim basis on July 9, 2024. On Aug. 27, 2024, the criminal court sentenced Krob to detention in the Department of Corrections for 12 years to life. In addition, Krob’s mandatory parole runs 10 years to life, and he must register as a sex offender.
Krob’s convictions were predicated on a criminal episode between Krob and his then-spouse.
Krob’s three-year suspension, coupled with the anticipated period of his incarceration and parole, has the same practical effect as disbarment, according to the full opinion. With this dynamic in mind, and because rejecting the stipulation could amount to an abuse of the court’s discretion, the court wrote it reluctantly approved the agreement.
The presiding disciplinary judge found Krob’s stipulation to discipline to be consistent with the considerations governing imposition of disciplinary sanctions and issued an opinion approving the stipulation. Krob is suspended from the practice of law for three years, effective Dec. 31, 2024.
People v. Steven Richard Louth
Following a jury trial in July 2023, Steven Louth was acquitted of assault but was found guilty of harassment, a class 1 misdemeanor, and child abuse without injury committed knowingly or recklessly, a class 2 misdemeanor. The criminal court imposed the minimum sentence of 12 months of probation with domestic violence evaluation and treatment.
Louth’s case involved domestic violence. The victim in the underlying matter was Louth’s former spouse, and the minor children were present during the incident.
The presiding disciplinary judge approved Louth’s revised stipulation to discipline and suspended Louth from the practice of law for six months, all to be stayed pending his successful completion of a three-year probation, with conditions. Louth’s probation takes effect Jan. 2.