DENVER – Deanna West, one of three individuals charged in the 2023 cross burning incident, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Denver to a conspiracy charge. Authorities say the act was staged as part of a hoax intended to create a false narrative that appeared to be an attack on Yemi Mobolade, the newly elected mayor of Colorado Springs and the city’s first Black mayor.
West’s guilty plea, part of a deal with federal prosecutors, included the dismissal of an additional charge related to the burning of the cross. The incident occurred just before Mobolade’s election, and a photo and video were circulated to media outlets and civic organizations, making it appear as though the cross burning was a racial attack on the candidate.
The Hoax and Its Political Implications
Prosecutors did not provide an explanation for why West and the two other individuals charged—Derrick Bernard and Ashley Blackcloud—staged the hoax. However, the defense attorneys for Bernard and Blackcloud suggested in court filings that the goal of the hoax was to generate public outrage and, ultimately, assist Mobolade’s campaign. They argued that the act was a form of political theater, protected by the First Amendment as free speech.
Bernard and Blackcloud are pushing to have charges against them dropped, claiming that the cross burning did not result in any direct threats and that no one other than the defendants witnessed the event. They also contended that the act did not create a legitimate danger, as it was staged during the night.
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Communication Between Bernard and Mobolade
Court documents revealed that Bernard communicated directly with Mobolade both before and after the cross burning. In a Facebook message sent a week before the April 23, 2023, incident, Bernard mentioned that he was “mobilizing my squadron in defense and for the final push” to ensure the Klan would not “run this city again.” The two later spoke by phone three days after the event.
Mobolade has denied any involvement in the crime and claimed he was unaware of the planned hoax. A spokesperson for Mobolade referred to a video statement the mayor made on social media in December, shortly after the charges were announced. In the video, Mobolade explained that Bernard was known to him as a local media figure and showed a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice indicating that Mobolade was identified as either a victim or a potential victim in the investigation.
Mobolade cooperated with authorities and provided all communications requested during the investigation.
