A judge dismissed charges Monday against adventurer Aron Ralston, who was jailed after a domestic dispute in Denver.
“In an evaluation of the case, we determined there was no likelihood of conviction,” said Melissa Drazen-Smith, assistant director of prosecution for the Denver city attorney’s office.
Prosecutors are proceeding with similar charges against Ralston’s girlfriend, Vita Shannon, who was arrested with him late Saturday at her home in Denver.
Ralston and Shannon, both 38, were arrested for one count of assault and one count of wrongs to minors. Police level the wrongs-to-minors charge when children are present but not hurt during a domestic incident.
Shannon pleaded not guilty to both charges and a third — disturbing the peace — that was added during the hearing Monday. Judge Claudia Jordan set bail at $550.
Shannon is scheduled to appear in court again Friday. If convicted, she could receive up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $999 for each charge.
Ralston told police that Shannon hit him twice in the back of the head with her fists during an argument. Shannon told police Ralston shoved her on the shoulder as he left her home, according to the reports. Police noted that the couple’s infant daughter was present during the fight.
In April 2003, Ralston was descending a slot canyon when a boulder he was climbing on dislodged, crushing and trapping his right hand against the canyon wall. After five days, he broke his arm and amputated the limb.
Ralston’s harrowing experience was made into the movie “127 Hours.”
Updated Dec. 10, 2013, 3:36 p.m. The following corrected information has been added to this article: Because of an editing error, Vita Shannon’s pleas were misstated in the original headline. .
