Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
Man cited after stealing, returning newspapers
An image of the front page of the Jan. 18-24 edition of the Plaindealer. Paul Choate, 41, of Ridgway, admitted to stealing copies of the newspaper from racks in Ridgway and Ouray. He criticized the placement of the story above the photo of the San Juan Skijoring event, saying it overshadowed positive news.
News
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com, on January 24, 2024
Man cited after stealing, returning newspapers

Ridgway businessman apologizes; theft sparks national media coverage

A Ridgway business owner has been cited on suspicion of petty theft after he stole most of the printed copies of last week’s edition of the Ouray County Plaindealer from racks in Ridgway and Ouray, an act that triggered coverage from media outlets across the country and as far away as Great Britain, including the New York Times and the Washington Post.

The Ouray County Sheriff ’s Office cited Paul Choate, 41, who admitted to stealing the newspapers early on the morning of Jan. 18. He returned them to the Plaindealer office Thursday night with an apology and offered to pay for the papers.

The Plaindealer had already had another 250 copies printed for distribution when he returned the stolen papers. The new copies were redistributed by Friday morning.

In addition to petty theft, sheriff ’s deputies are asking that Choate be charged with interference with lawful distribution of newspapers. That is a civil infraction that carries a potential fine of up to $2,500 for the amount of newspapers stolen in this case. The state legislature passed that law in 2022.

The Jan. 18-24 edition of the Plaindealer featured a front page story detailing a 17-year-old girl’s allegations she was raped at least three times by two different men at the home of Ouray Police Chief Jeff Wood. The alleged attack occurred in May 2023.

Three suspects, Gabriel Trujillo, 20, and Ashton Whittington and Nate Dieffenderffer, both 18, were arrested in December and have been charged with felony sexual assault. Dieffenderffer is the stepson of Wood. He was 17 at the time of the alleged crime, and while juvenile court records are normally not a matter of public record in Colorado, the Plaindealer is naming Dieffenderffer because he was 18 at the time of his arrest and because of the serious nature of the allegations.

Copies of that edition were stolen from 12 racks in Ridgway and Ouray. Investigators were able to identify Choate using several leads and video surveillance, which showed Choate insert quarters into the vending racks at several locations and remove all the newspapers inside.

Choate, who owns Kate’s Place restaurant in Ridgway, admitted he took the newspapers because he was upset by the front page story.

Based on the number of newspapers distributed to racks in Ridgway and Ouray last week and the time frame in which the newspapers were stolen, the Plaindealer initially believed more than 200 newspapers were stolen. A large trash bag that Choate dropped off at the Plaindealer contained roughly 180 newspapers.

The theft was not connected in any way to the three defendants in the case, their families or the Ouray Police Department or other local law enforcement agencies.

Choate has offered varying reasons for why he stole the newspapers. In a phone call to the Plaindealer on the afternoon of Jan. 18, during which he declined to identify himself, he accused the newspaper of attempting to profit off the story of the sexual assault allegations. He also accused the newspaper of harming other businesses and individuals in the community in the past through its reporting.

He criticized the placement of the story on the alleged sex assault case on the front page, above the fold, saying it overshadowed positive news.

 

An image of the front page of the Jan. 18-24 edition of the Plaindealer. Paul Choate, 41, of Ridgway, admitted to stealing copies of the newspaper from racks in Ridgway and Ouray. He criticized the placement of the story above the photo of the San Juan Skijoring event, saying it overshadowed positive news.

 

“You know, there was such a good event held this weekend with (San Juan) Skijoring and such a positive situation. And for a gang rape of a local victim to be posted on top of that event, I don’t understand. I don’t understand what you guys did to Taco del Gnar. I don’t understand what you guys did to our former sheriff. I don’t understand what you guys did to the KOA in the pandemic,” he said.

The Plaindealer reported last year about a foodborne illness outbreak that occurred at Taco del Gnar, a Ridgway taco shop, that sickened more than 100 people. State health officials still have not determined the source of the outbreak. Two customers have filed lawsuits against Taco del Gnar.

Choate also criticized the Plaindealer’s coverage of former Sheriff Lance FitzGerald, who had a series of alcohol-fueled domestic violence incidents, one of which resulted in a drunken-driving arrest. That led to county voters recalling FitzGerald with more than 90% of the vote in 2020.

Choate’s complaint about the KOA involves the campground off County Road 23, whose previous owners flouted COVID-19 rules at the outset of the pandemic.

Regarding these past stories he cited in explaining his reason for taking the papers, he said, “It’s all for profit for you, in my eyes. And that’s why I did what I did. I’ll double whatever the cost was for the papers. But this is my way of boycotting. And I don’t care. I’ll report myself, if you like,” he said.

Later in the call, Choate complained the Plaindealer had printed inaccurate information in several stories, including the story about the alleged sex assault. The Plaindealer asked Choate several times to provide the correct information so the newspaper could look into it and print a correction, if necessary, but he did not provide details.

In a post on social media Monday, Choate offered a different explanation for why he stole the newspapers. He claimed he was “appalled” by the graphic details in the article and said he wanted to support victims of sexual assault.

News
Ridgway keeps water restrictions
By Erin 
July 16, 2025
Ridgway remains in Stage 3 watering restrictions, upheld during a July 9 meeting by town councilors who cited concerns about persistent dry conditions and no permanent fix allowing the town to access ...
this is a test
Hunting down the ghosts
Main, News...
Hunting down the ghosts
Veterans services officer finds and assists those who served with benefits, problems
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
During his time as a bus driver in Telluride, Mikael Madsen encountered many of his fellow veterans struggling to survive a Western Slope winter. At the time, Madsen was what he calls a military ghost...
this is a test
Wildfires surge across region
Main, News...
Wildfires surge across region
Brief monsoon could bring relief — or lightning — before dry spell returns
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
Four lightning-sparked wildfires that had scorched more than 20,000 acres in southwestern Colorado as of Wednesday continue to churn through tinder-dry terrain, as hundreds of firefighters struggle to...
this is a test
Judge to rule on land condemnation
News
Judge to rule on land condemnation
Town seeks slice of property for walking trail; resident c laims use unnecessary
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
A district judge is expected to rule this week on whether the town of Ridgway can seize a slice of a resident’s property to create a walking trail, after a trial concluded last week. The conflict date...
this is a test
Aspen Democrat seeks to unseat Hurd in Congress
News
Aspen Democrat seeks to unseat Hurd in Congress
Alex Kelloff, first-time candidate for public office, stumps in western Colorado
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
An Aspen Democrat tried and failed twice in the last two elections to represent the 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Now, a different Democrat from Aspen hopes he’ll have better luck in 2...
this is a test
News
Trio of incidents keeps rescuers busy
July 16, 2025
The Ouray Mountain Rescue Team kept busy last weekend, rescuing or assisting two hikers and a paraglider who were injured over three consecutive days. The first incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Jul...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
News
County to tackle problem with addresses
Irregularities create trouble for emergency responders
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
Sometimes it takes Ouray County emergency responders knocking on doors and waking people at three different homes at 2 a.m. to find the person who needs their help because no addresses are listed on t...
this is a test
Funding issue postpones Ouray wildfire mitigation
News
Funding issue postpones Ouray wildfire mitigation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
A 93-acre wildfire mitigation project in the hillsides above Ouray is on hold until at least next fall, while project leaders keep their fingers crossed for more than $500,000 in federal money. The Ou...
this is a test
News
Application period opens for county manager job
July 16, 2025
Ouray County's next administrator will be required to live within the county. That's just one of the requirements listed in the application to become Ouray County’s next manager, which is open after c...
this is a test
Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
July 17-30, 2025
July 16, 2025
THURSDAY JULY 17 "Natural Tie–Dye" activity with the youth garden club for ages 8–18, from 3:30–4:30 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech proble...
this is a test
News
Town moves ahead with housing administrator
July 16, 2025
The Ridgway Town Council has agreed to proceed with developing a contract with the Home Trust of Ouray County for the nonprofit to provide shared services as an affordable housing administrator for th...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy