Former Green Mountain High School psychologist James Michael Chevrier, 39, is headed to prison for at least five years after a Jefferson County jury found him guilty on multiple charges, including sexual assault on a child. Jefferson County District Court Judge Diego G. Hunt handed down the sentence in Golden, ordered Chevrier to complete required sex-offender treatment before he can be released, and credited him with 255 days served in pre-sentence confinement.
Judge Opts For Five-Year Prison Stretch
Deputy District Attorney Holly Spease had pushed for the statutory maximum of 12 years, arguing for the heaviest possible penalty. The judge stopped short of that request and imposed a five-year term in the Department of Corrections instead. During the hearing, the victim and her father addressed the court. The teen told the judge that Chevrier “robbed her of her entire freshman year” and said she did not want him to keep power over anyone else, according to Denver7.
Jury Conviction Follows Five-Day Trial
Chevrier’s sentence follows a January verdict by a Jefferson County jury after a five-day trial. Jurors found him guilty on five counts, including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, unlawful possession of MDMA, possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, while two additional counts were dismissed. Reporting and court records indicate the case grew out of allegations involving multiple students and an investigation that began with a Safe2Tell tip. Those conviction details were outlined by CBS Colorado.
School Posts And Safe2Tell Tip Underpin Case
At the time of his arrest, Chevrier was working at both Green Mountain High School and Bear Creek High School. Previous reporting notes he had also worked at Evergreen High School and in the Cherry Creek School District. Lakewood police say their investigation started after a Safe2Tell report in May 2025, which ultimately led to the charges he faced in court. Details about his school employment and arrest history were reported by Denver7.
Case Lands Amid Wider Scrutiny In Jeffco Schools
Chevrier’s prosecution has played out against a backdrop of growing public concern about sexual-misconduct allegations involving Jefferson County Public Schools staff. Local coverage has highlighted several alleged incidents over recent years, prompting pointed questions from parents and closer examination of the district’s safeguards and response protocols. The Denver Gazette has reported on that broader pattern within the district.
Legal Notes
The First Judicial District handled the prosecution, and prosecutors sought the maximum sentence allowed on the most serious charge. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered mandatory sex-offender treatment as part of Chevrier’s sentence and formally credited him with 255 days already served. Two charges were dismissed during the trial. Defense attorneys did not immediately provide comment on whether they plan to appeal, according to reporting by CBS Colorado.
