DENVER — In a recent development related to a controversial incident in Colorado Springs, a woman involved in the burning of a cross beside a damaged campaign sign of the city’s first Black mayor has entered a guilty plea. The event in question has been described by authorities as a deliberate hoax intended to mislead the public. Deanna West, one of the three accused individuals, admitted her role in a Denver federal court, conceding guilt to the charge of conspiracy aimed at igniting the fire and subsequently disseminating misleading information surrounding the case. This admission was part of a plea deal that led to the dismissal of an additional related charge.
The details of the case reveal that the staged cross burning was followed by the distribution of images and a video to the media and other groups, painting it as a racially motivated threat against Mayor Yemi Mobolade. Prosecutors outline that the conspiracy was meant to disrupt Mobolade’s opponent’s campaign by creating an illusion of racial intimidation hindering Mobolade’s candidacy. West’s involvement was reportedly influenced by her dependency on one of the co-defendants, Derrick Bernard, for her job and housing, a situation which prompted her to agree to partake, the court documents disclosed.
In defense, attorneys for Bernard and the third accused, Ashley Blackcloud, have argued that their clients were engaging in political expression, an act safeguarded by the First Amendment. Their legal representation insists on dismissing the charges, pointing out that no actual threat was posed, emphasizing that the night-time cross burning was witnessed only by the defendants themselves.
Court records further show that Bernard had communication with Mobolade both before and after the incident, including a message via Facebook suggesting strategic mobilization to prevent a racial regression in city leadership. This was followed by a brief phone conversation after Mobolade’s win in a runoff election in early May 2023. Mobolade has consistently refuted any prior knowledge or involvement in the fabricated incident.
A city spokesperson directed inquiries to a prior statement from Mobolade, acknowledging Bernard as a “local media personality” with whom he had interactions. Additionally, Mobolade presented a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice classifying him as a victim in the investigation, affirming his cooperation by providing requested communications.
