Colorado court: Lee Dougherty reaches plea deal

WALSENBURG, Colo. — One of the three Dougherty siblings accused in a multi-state crime spree has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, a spokesman for the Colorado court system said today.

Prosecutors and Lee Grace Dougherty, 29, are scheduled to present a plea deal to a judge on Thursday, spokesman Rob McCallum said.

Dougherty's lawyer, Patrick McCarville, declined to comment citing a gag order imposed by Chief District Judge Claude Appel. District Attorney Frank Ruybalid didn't immediately return a call.

Dougherty and her two brothers - Ryan Dougherty, 21, and Dylan Stanley-Dougherty, 26 - are accused of shooting at a police officer in Florida, as well as robbing a Georgia bank before being captured in southern Colorado on Aug. 10.

The siblings had faced five counts each in Colorado of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and other felony charges related to a high-speed chase and what authorities say was a shootout leading up to their capture.

But prosecutors earlier this month dropped attempted murder charges against Lee Grace Dougherty. She now faces eight felony first-degree assault charges, each carrying the sentence enhancing charge of being a crime of violence, and eight felony menacing charges for each of the officers allegedly fired at or threatened during the chase.

Each first-degree assault charges carries a penalty of up to 12 years in prison, while each felony menacing charges carries a three year penalty.

The siblings' attorneys during a hearing in September questioned whether prosecutors' evidence could prove that the siblings were trying to harm or kill officers, pointing to an apparent lack of bullet holes on police cruisers involved in the chase.

There's no word yet on whether the Dougherty brothers have also reached plea deals. Colorado, federal and Florida prosecutors have been discussing possible plea deals involving them.

Stanley-Dougherty allegedly plotted to break out of the Walsenburg jail and had found his way into the walls and ceiling of the building. Deputies said on Jan. 10 they found a homemade knife, a letter addressed to the FBI and the note to his sister that detailed a plan to drop down on guards in the control booth at the jail.

He has since been transferred to the jail in Pueblo, 45 miles away.

Lee Grace Dougherty pleaded not guilty to the Colorado charges and had been scheduled to go on trial Feb. 21. If Appel accepts the plea deal, sentencing typically would happen within two months.

The siblings are suspected of firing at least 20 shots on Aug. 2 at a Zephyrhills officer who tried to pull them over for speeding.

The officer, who was not injured, did not return fire but gave chase. The Subaru reached speeds of 103 mph before the pursuit ended at State Road 54 and Morris Bridge Road when a bullet struck the patrol car's front left tire.

Investigators linked the siblings to the case after they found Ryan Dougherty's ankle monitor near the scene of the car chase. He had just been issued the monitor after being convicted of sending sexually explicit text messages to an 11-year-old girl.

Hours later, three people wearing masks robbed a bank in Valdosta, Ga., about 210 miles north of Pasco County. One robber brandished an AK-47 assault rifle while another was photographed by a security camera waving some type of machine gun, said the FBI, which named the Doughertys as suspects.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said all three had been living together in Lachoochee, and each had legal issues. Lee-Grace Dougherty has charges pending against her in a hit-and-run and had previously been charged with battery, Nocco said, and Dylan Dougherty Stanley had been charged with marijuana possession.

Nocco said the Subaru belongs to Ryan Dougherty's girlfriend, who helped authorities identify the car.