'BONG-A-THON' DECISION IS DELAYED

The Larimer County District Attorney's Office on Thursday said there
is not enough evidence to charge two Denver-area men accused of
organizing a rowdy music and drug festival near Red Feather Lakes last
weekend.

Michael J. Davis, 37, of Lakewood and Christopher T- Lopez, 30. of
Littleton appeared in Larimer County Court to face charges stemming
from the party, which drew an estimated 2,000 people to a remote
mountain spot. The men were arrested on suspicion of felony drug crimes.

But the district attorney's office asked for two more weeks to
investigate and formally file charges. Judge Ronald Schultz granted
the extension.

"There's insufficient evidence at this moment upon which to base a
case," said Daniel Quinn, chief deputy district attorney. "Further
investigation may result in charges, and we believe it will."

The Larimer County sheriffs office staged a high profile raid on the
festival, called the 25th annual Colorado Invitational, or
"Bong-A-Thon," a reference to a type of pipe used to smoke marijuana.
Authorities seized all manner of illegal drugs and
paraphernalia.

The bust, involving some 150 law-enforcement officers, also yielded 18
arrests for felony drug crimes and 24 citations for petty offenses.

Not all of those felony cases resulted in charges Thursday.

Seven defendants were advised in court of felony drug charges against
them. But the district attorney declined to file charges against four
defendants; Schultz released them from investigation, at least for
now.

Several other suspects have not yet appeared In court.

Sgt. Justin Smith of the sheriff's office said the day's developments
do not indicate that authorities lack evidence or that they have shaky
cases. Rather, he said, there is so much evidence that investigators
need more time to assess it all.

Davis, who owns the land where the party took place, declined to
comment after his court appearance. But he confirmed that the festival
has been staged for 25 years at different spots in Colorado.