Arapahoe County, Colorado – A courtroom appearance tied to a fatal traffic case turned violent this week after a defense attorney was allegedly attacked inside a Colorado courthouse, leaving him with severe spinal injuries and a shattered pelvis, according to police and court records.
Authorities say Daniel Ashby, 36, is accused of body-slamming the lawyer representing the man charged in the death of Ashby’s 12-year-old nephew, who was killed earlier this year in a suspected distracted driving crash. Ashby now faces a felony assault charge and remains in custody.
Incident unfolded before scheduled court hearing
The incident occurred Monday morning at the Arapahoe County Courthouse, where a hearing was scheduled in the case against Christopher Ramirez-Rodriguez, 19, the driver accused of striking and killing the child.
According to an arrest document, Ashby wanted to speak directly with Ramirez-Rodriguez prior to the hearing. However, H. Michael Steinberg, the defense attorney representing Ramirez-Rodriguez, was positioned between Ashby and the defendant in the courthouse hallway.
Police allege Ashby became confrontational during the exchange.
The arrest document states Ashby “aggressively approached H. Michael Steinberg trying to see the defendant Steinberg was representing.” When the attorney attempted to create distance, the situation escalated.
Investigators wrote that Steinberg “told Ashby to go into the courthouse and pushed him back to create space as Ashby was in his face.” Moments later, Ashby allegedly “performed a ‘MMA style takedown’ on Steinberg causing him to become unconscious.”
Lawyer suffers severe spinal injuries
The attack left the attorney with serious physical trauma. Steinberg was transported by emergency responders to a nearby hospital following the assault.
Speaking Tuesday to a Denver-area television station, Steinberg said he sustained multiple spinal fractures and a shattered pelvis, describing himself as being “in serious pain.” He confirmed that surgery was scheduled later in the week to address his injuries.
Court officials confirmed Ashby was taken into custody immediately following the incident inside the courthouse.
Charges and custody status
According to Arapahoe County Jail records, Daniel Ashby has been formally charged with second-degree assault, a felony under Colorado law.
He is currently being held at the Arapahoe County Jail on a $75,000 bond. Ashby is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Friday, where a judge will address the charges stemming from the courthouse incident.
Family expresses frustration with legal process
Following the arrest, Michael Ashby, Daniel Ashby’s older brother and the father of the 12-year-old victim, spoke publicly about the family’s emotional state.
He said his family has attended multiple hearings connected to the case against Ramirez-Rodriguez and described them as “frustrated with this legal system.” The family has been present at nearly every court appearance since the fatal crash, according to his statement.
Details of the fatal crash involving the child
The underlying case that brought both families to court involves a deadly collision that occurred on July 19 at approximately 10 a.m., according to the Aurora Police Department.
Police said the 12-year-old boy was riding an electric scooter through a marked crosswalk when Ramirez-Rodriguez allegedly failed to stop at a red traffic signal and struck the child.
Authorities stated, “The investigation determined the pedestrian had activated the red signal light that stops both east and westbound traffic when the crash happened.”
Witnesses at the scene rendered aid until first responders arrived. The boy was transported to a local hospital but later died from his injuries.
Driver cooperation and original charge
Police confirmed that Ramirez-Rodriguez remained at the scene of the crash and was cooperative throughout the investigation.
While officers did not believe alcohol or drugs were involved, they stated they were “investigating distracted driving as a contributing factor to the crash.”
Ramirez-Rodriguez was later charged with careless driving resulting in death, a serious traffic-related offense under Colorado law.
Judge addresses courtroom conduct after assault
Following Monday’s alleged assault, the presiding judge reportedly addressed those present in the courtroom, cautioning families against taking matters into their own hands.
According to reports from those in attendance, the judge scolded families about “taking justice into their own hands,” emphasizing the importance of allowing the legal process to move forward without violence or intimidation.
Ongoing investigation
Officials confirmed that authorities have continued reviewing the circumstances surrounding the courthouse attack. Law enforcement agencies have not released additional details about surveillance footage or witness statements at this time.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted for further information regarding the incident.
What happens next
Daniel Ashby’s upcoming court appearance will determine the next steps in the assault case, while proceedings in the distracted driving death case are expected to continue separately.
Both matters remain active within the Arapahoe County court system.
Have thoughts on courthouse safety or the legal process in emotionally charged cases? Share your perspective in the comments below.
