Judge separates Boulder boy’s rape charges

A Boulder boy facing five sex offense charges and being tried as an adult in Montana Fifth Judicial District Court in Boulder might face two trials after a judge ruled in favor of the defense’s motion to sever, or separate, one charge from the other four.

Michael C. Mitchell, 17, was charged Sept. 3, 2019 with two felony counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one felony count and two misdemeanor counts of sexual assault.

One of the sexual intercourse without consent counts and all three sexual assault counts — referred to as Counts 1, 3, 4 and 5 in court documents — stem from activity Mitchell is alleged to have engaged in with a younger girl referred to in court documents as Victim 1.