Never let it be said that I was a woman who interfered with a malevolent man kicking his own ass.

When Rocky Mountain News reporter Charlie Brennan wrote me over one hundred letters in what, I believe, was an attempt to seduce me into giving him vicious gossip for his Swift-boating of Ward Churchill back in 2005, I did not interfere. I patiently let him pour his sleazy heart out for five months and then forwarded the letters for publication on the Internet. Charlie was immediately fired from the Churchill story for bias. He kicked his own ass and I did not interfere.

When Charlie left the now-bankrupt Rocky Mountain News for Fox 31 News, I knew his oily quackery would be broadcast for all to see and shake their heads at in embarrassed wonder. Night after night he kicks his own stumbling, discombobulated ass like a bucking bronco on crack. I did not interfere. The Week In Politics With Charlie Brennan was finally canceled and every month sees Charlie with less and less airtime.

And in Civil Court in Denver County on Thursday, Charlie Brennan pled guilty to Interference with a police officer (case #08GS089868), a charge he incurred at the 3200 block of N. Downing Street June 20, 2008 while covering the shooting of a little girl named Sierra Moore. According to the police sergeant who ticketed him that night, Charlie “deliberately and intentionally yanked up the crime scene tape to cross the crime scene.”

The police officer said this to the prosecuting attorney – and Charlie’s lawyer Craig Skinner – before the trial began Thursday, as Skinner attempted to hustle the city into a less embarrassing judgment than the SCRAM bracelet and house detention Brennan might have faced. Craig Skinner is one of Colorado’s most prominent DUI attorneys and previously has been the legal counsel for Charlie when he faced losing his drivers license over too many traffic violation points (case #B480680). Skinner is also the attorney of record for Charlie’s daughter, who in 2004 faced a domestic violence/misdemeanor violent crime charge (#04M510 – dismissed) and has been sentenced by the Boulder County court to a Level I Alcohol Eval and Treatment program for reckless driving (06T4857)*. Needless to say, Charlie is as much a menace behind the wheel as he is everywhere else. Apparently, it’s a family tradition.

Initially refusing to give his consent to the plea bargain, the police sergeant pointed out that Charlie did not just “put a little bit of a toe across the line. I had to chase him down to ticket him.”

“And he still won’t take responsibility!” the policeman exclaimed in frustration at the bargaining.

Later during the court trial, after Charlie pled guilty and Judge Breese gave him a deferred judgment for one year plus sixteen hours of community service, the prosecuting attorney read the charges again for the record.

She said, “At the 3200 block of North Downing Street, the Defendant deliberately entered a sixty foot section of the crime scene. When a policeman came after the defendant to ticket him Charlie Brennan said ‘I know, I know but I am working for Fox News and I wanted to get to the other side.’”

That Charlie would have such arrogant disregard for the inviolability of a crime scene – especially when the crime has been committed against an eight-year old African-American girl – does not surprise me. What did surprise me was Craig Skinner’s almost desperate pleading with the city and then the judge to have the trial heard in judge’s chambers. The prosecuting attorney was asked by the police why such an unusual request for a hearing in chambers was made. She answered “Because Brennan thinks he’s special.”

Apparently no one else did. The request was denied.

I am still in shock that Charlie and his attorney would imagine my reporting such a threat that they needed to go hide in the judge’s chamber, especially with a judge who the defendant already had been told did not like his attitude. But then again, Charlie has a great deal of trouble controlling his temper, or comporting himself with any class. I would know. After the previous Diversion hearing on December 17, 2008, Charlie spied this reporter outside the court room and came barreling over to stand uncomfortably close to me and demanded that I give him my name. For almost four years and over one hundred letters now, I have steadfastly refused to do so. This enraged Charlie further and he bellowed to his lawyer “THAT’S HER!!!”

Charles was feeling very brave – with his wife not present.

Mr. Skinner and I sized each other up as Charlie jammed an accusatory finger dangerously close to the side of my face. I guess he was trying to be intimidating, but I am not scared off by puff bullies. Of Mr. Skinner I can only say this: he seemed as wearied by Charlie as I am, and I had the impression that the expression on his face meant “We are the only two adults standing here, aren’t we?” Yes, Craig. We are. And you need to get your client on a leash before he does something even more stupid. You know I won’t interfere if he chooses to kick his own ass, right?

The come-apart Charlie had that day in December really was quite strange, especially after he had deliberately chosen to sit right next to me for almost thirty minutes while waiting for the Diversion hearing to begin. We said not a word to each other. Charlie did a crossword puzzle and I wrote in my reporter’s notebook. Wearing a tweed coat and green tie, he stank of a grandfatherly, drugstore cologne that struck me as far too geriatric, even if I did put ten premature years on his face.

Our coming together again in a court room was an anniversary of sorts; it was almost four years to the month that he sat next to me during the Columbus Day parade trials that saw over 280 protestors acquitted of any wrongdoing for blocking the 2004 parade. My impressions of his demeanor became an important part of our long correspondence. Ever the hungry narcissist, he ate it up and The Brennan Files website is the result.

When the court finally called Charlie’s name to begin the Diversion hearing, he stood and crossed in front of me. As he did so, Brennan turned to look down at me as I gazed calmly and deeply up into his eyes. I almost wish I had not. Never have I seen a man look at me with eyes that wounded, conveying all at once great sorrow, great anger, and a desperate plea for help. It looked as if his very soul had been torn to ribbons and was bleeding profusely.

Well cry me a river! I mean, gee Charlie, what did you think was going to happen? You know I cannot interfere if you choose to kick your own ass. These are your consequences. I’ve done nothing wrong. And if you are going to look at me that way, don’t you think your wife, who has attended none of these trials, ought to know? I do.

Someday I will share here on this website the ten, previously unpublished letters that started this long, ugly journey with Charlie. Let it be said for now that in these letters rage’oholic Charlie lost his temper when I dared to challenge the racist motivation behind his first round of Ward Churchill stories. That brief correspondence quickly spiraled into Charlie becoming completely unhinged, and he ended it with an angry and arrogant “I hope you can find some other way to amuse yourself.”

Well, Charles. I did.

And as the judge warned you today, if you cannot control yourself for the next year and stay out of trouble with the law, you could be facing some serious jail time. The judge claimed that he would remove your guilty plea and expunge the record if you behave. I doubt seriously that you will be able to control your juvenile behavior for three hundred sixty five days, and I fully expect to see you in court again soon soon. If not, well, the record of your guilt will remain here for all to read for a very long time.

Oh yes Mr. Brennan, you will kick your own ass again. And I will not interfere.

You can count on it.

*Court Records for the Brennan crime family can be found here by entering the case numbers from the story: Denver County Court Cases and Boulder County Public Reports.

To read from start to finish the letters former Rocky Mountain News reporter Charlie Brennan sent to me in the Summer/Fall of 2005, scroll down to the very bottom of the page.

Comments are welcome.  Be sure to fill in the email section, even if it’s a made up address.

The person who sent these emails once worked with Charlie Brennan at the Rocky Mountain News. To respect the contributor’s request to remain anonymous, any revealing information has been removed. The Try Works site that once contained The Brennan Files has been taken down from the internet.

April 16, 2006

Hi there _____. Many moons ago I worked at the RMN with Charlie Brennan. Last week a friend emailed me a link to Try Works and while surfing about I saw the Brennan Files. Whoa!

So I shared the link with a two other former RMN reporters, and now we beg your indulgence in answering a few indiscreet questions:

what’ve you heard about how he learned of his unmasking…his reaction…wife’s reaction (ouch)…how did it impact his newsroom standing etc.? Did he ever confront Mystery Lady?

Any juice appreciated.

Thanks,

___________

April 17, 2006

The RMN is similar to other newsrooms I’ve worked in – pretty typical highs and lows. __________________ Do know that most of the journalists I respect are gone in the wake of the JOA [Joint Operating Agreement]. I – and the journalists I respect – consider John Temple an amazingly bland mediocrity.

As for Brennan, I never worked on a story with him….ran in different circles…..didn’t pay him much attention….had a slightly negative impression because his desk backed up on the printer cubicle, and he pinned up all these sleazy girls-in-bikinis postcards. Just seemed unprofessional and distasteful. He was polite….seemed to work hard….seemed to care about his work/stories….but just didn’t interest me, professionally or personally.

It was strange reading his emails. I was actually embarrassed for him…kept wincing, then shaking my head in disgust – found myself thinking of how I’d feel if I read that on line and I was his WIFE. Ugh.

The only Brennan juice I can offer is that his dream goddess was – as indicated by many pictures on the printer cubicle wall – get ready….drumroll…..Winona Ryder! That stuck in my head. Had to see the bikini postcards and Winona worship stuff every time I went to the printer to get my printout…someone finally complained that it was sexist/offensive, and he had to take it all down.

April 17, 2006

Feel free to post my tidbit anonymously. Brennan was just another coworker to me except for the postcards and winona shrine. Struck me as macho-offensive and childish; I mean, he had to be approaching 40 at the time, which is middle-aged for gawd’s sake. _____ [I've] worked with white males almost exclusively….and his demeanor/persona/behavior wasn’t that unusual, sadly.

And knowing how competitive and snarky a big metro newsroom can be….well, if the Try Works stuff is widely known in the newsroom and among the local journalism groups, you can be sure that Brennan has been/is being made to suffer most painfully.

From: “Brennan, Charlie”
Subject:
Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 18:12:11 -0700

Hi there – Is there anything I might say that would induce you to keep what has passed between us private? I was very impressed with you – the person who I saw in your mail – and never figured you for someone who would turn a private correspondence into something else. But of course, I never really knew you. Here’s hoping I didn’t sorely misjudge, and you’ll consider leaving what was intended to private, private.

Best, CB

Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 14:57:41 -0400
From: chickq@aol.com
Subject: Re:

I’m thinking, I’m thinking, I’m thinking.

Wanna read. Wanna give you what you’ve asked for.

Am wondering what a person of true integrity would do.

Thinking, thinking, thinking.

Wishing, wanting, thinking, wanting and wishing.

And hoping you’re having some fun, whateber it is that you’re doing today, tomorrow, the next day.

We actually have a public gig coming up…..

What’s your number again?

I listened to the more recent of the two Shivaree albums yesterday, driving back from Glenwood. Love the song “Mexican Boyfriend.” Had never discernd what the first line was, before: “I wore the dress that you like, almost every day..” Haunting.

I love a good haunting. You know that.

Thrills, Chas.

Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 11:56:26 -0400
From: chickq@aol.com
Subject: Re: Charmless

NO! Never, ever, the dreaded Lucky Charm!!!

I’ve never chocula’d, myself. That’s a line I’ve never allowed myself to cross.

Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:21:50 -0400
From: chickq@aol.com
Subject: Re: Obits

Dear Emily Caroline –

The answer is: we used to have someone who was a full-time obits writer. Now, they pass them around, on a loose rotation. Consequently, most of us find ourselves having to write one every few months. I actually really enjoy them. Because, for many, many people, it is one of the few times, maybe the only time, they’re going to get their name in the paper. And, for many, the last time. For that reason, I take it as a very important task, and I try to make them as good as I can, given whatever the constraints might be in each case (length, the achievements of the person in question – or lack thereof). I consider it one of the greatest responsibilities one can have in our biz. You want to make it good, and you don’t want to make errors.

The greatest thing about the H. Inn Expresses is that the breakfast spread has both Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes.

Fording the River Styx, Journalistically, Chick

Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 10:22:21 -0400
From: chickq@aol.com
Subject: Re: Not only but also

Okay, okay, okay.

Hi!

From a sunny Grand Junction, where I just had a nice run, as the sun was coming up over the cliffs in the distant east.

She doesn’t have a swashbuckling name. It’s Pam. And she’s married. To a friend of mine. And is probably 55.

And I have the afflication of finding numerous people, male and female, swashbuckling.

As I’m sure I would find you.

And, what I would give to see that defiant, on-fire-bankig letter you wrote over the weekend.

I need to take a sip of my hot tea.

Yow.

You shouldn’t send me that swashbuckling weekend letter if you would then find yourself morally bound to write Erin an apology. I would forego seeing that letter, in order to forego the apology.

But I’d love to see that letter.

I was feeling so good about having four new songs going at once, that I really have taken my time with them. “Book of Days” was the first finished, and was finished back in early August. I only just this week got around to completing “What Bothers Me The Most is that it Bothers Me At All.” Next to be wrapped, soon, will be “Wrong Adrress.” The fourth doesn’t even have a name, yet. And, last night, in the comfort of my Holiday Inn Express, I started a fifth.

The autumn, she is good.

As are you.

CB

Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 19:17:29 -0400
From: chickq@aol.com
Subject: Re: Not only but also

Yow.

I probably shouldn’t be reading stuff like this (your note, below).

A woman on whose radar screen I thought I barely registered recently said I had a “swashbuckling” way about me. I’m still wishing I didn’t know that, because it was someone I found very…well, swashbuckling, herself.

Certain kinds of geekiness, in a woman, drive me wild.

I need to go read a phone book for a while, or something similar, to regain my perspective.

Head digging, Chick

From: “Brennan, Charlie”
Subject: RE: Something I forgot to ask
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 16:53:42 -0600

Dear E.C.

The names have been several, none of them great, the two getting the most play are/were The Frans (named for the husband of a female member, who served as our sound man) and the Pasty White Boy Soul Choir.

And yes, the weather has been gorgeous. Even today. The dark. The wet. Love it, all.

CB