The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office cited Paul Choate, 41, who admitted to stealing the newspapers early Thursday morning. He returned them to the Plaindealer office Thursday night with an apology. […] Choate, who owns Kate’s Place restaurant in Ridgway, admitted he took the newspapers because of the front page story. […] The Plaindealer is not disclosing Choate’s relationship to the sexual assault case. The theft was not connected in any way to the three defendants in the case, their families or the Ouray Police Department.

They’re promising more details in next week’s edition.