Man arrested in attempted dog drowning gets 25 years

It was no April Fool’s joke when Frank Richard Duran of Lafayette was sentenced to 25 years in prison at Weld County District Court on Friday, April 1.

Duran was arrested for setting a Niwot home on fire last year and attempting to drown a Pomeranian, “Cujo,” in addition to other crimes in Weld County. He pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and arson charges. Prosecutes decided to drop burglary, felony menacing, motor vehicle theft, child abuse, and trespassing charges.

After Duran’s spree of crimes in Weld and Boulder County, he found himself in Niwot where he broke into a home, set it on fire and attempted to drown the Pomeranian. The dog was unharmed.

Duran, 30, was given 25 years for the robbery charge and an extra 12 years for the arson charges, which will run at the same time. Court records indicated that he received credit for time served.