Lee Dougherty to face charges from Florida, other states

WALSENBURG, Colo. — A Colorado judge has ruled that charges from other states can be used in a case against Lee Grace Dougherty, one of three Pasco County siblings accused in a three-state crime spree.

Lee Dougherty has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted second-degree murder, assault and other charges related to a high-speed chase and what authorities say was a shootout before their capture Aug. 10. Her trial is set for Feb. 21. Her two brothers — Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26; and Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21 — are also facing charges.

During a hearing Monday, the judge ruled that all events leading up to the woman's arrest can be introduced in trial, including alleged crimes she and her brothers committed in Florida and Georgia.

The siblings from Lacoochee are also 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.

The cross-country manhunt for the Doughertys ended in Huerfano, Colo., on Aug. 10 after a chase on Interstate 25 that began when the trio was spotted near Colorado City, Colo., about 140 miles south of Denver.

The Doughertys are suspected of shooting at pursuing officers before they ran over spike strips and blew a tire. No officers were hit.

Lee Grace Dougherty was shot in the leg after she got out of the car that crashed into a guardrail and aimed a gun at an officer, authorities said.