Trial begins for Loveland UFO enthusiast in child pornography case

Update 8/2:Detective, special agents testify in child pornography trial

Update 8/1:Defense calls into question owner of child pornography files in Romanek case

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a Loveland man who has gained national notoriety for his accounts of purported alien abductions.

Stanley Tiger Romanek, 54, is charged with two felonies of sexual exploitation of a child for possession and distribution of child pornography.

Romanek was arrested in February 2014 after the conclusion of a long-term investigation into online sharing and possession of child pornography. The investigation was first initiated by the Department of Homeland Security and was then continued by the Loveland Police Department and the Northern Colorado Regional Forensics Laboratory.

Police executed a search warrant at Romanek's home in April 2013 in the 3900 block of Ash Avenue, where computers were seized. The investigator located more than 300 images as well as video files depicting child pornography from a laptop that was found inside Romanek's home office closet, arrest documents show.

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The affidavit also stated that Homeland Security officials tracked images and movies containing child pornography coming from an IP address belonging to Romanek in a 2009 investigation and again in January 2013. The Loveland Police Department didn't have its own cyber crimes unit in 2009.

Some of the files found in April 2013 matched those identified in January 2013, according to the affidavit, and the computer was "identified as an 'Alienware' computer" with "Stan Romanek" engraved on it.

During the search warrant execution, the affidavit stated, Romanek agreed to an interview in which he "admitted that he has seen files on his computer that could be considered child pornography but was unsure how they got there. He proposed the theory that someone planted the files on his computer to your Affiant."

Both Romanek and his wife, Lisa, have claimed in the past that they are victims of hacking, harassment and threats because of what they know about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. 

A documentary about the UFO enthusiast's abductions, "Extraordinary: The Stan Romanek Story," was released on Netflix earlier this month. Romanek has both supporters and detractors across UFO communities, as evidenced by the social media responses to his documentary.

In the documentary, Romanek details his allegations of abduction, harassment and finding out he has several alien children.

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He pleaded not guilty to the charges in March 2016 and his trial is scheduled for eight days. Several mental health competency evaluations have determined he is competent to stand trial.

The lead detective in Romanek's criminal case, Loveland Police Detective Brian Koopman, has faced scrutiny, and the Romaneks, their attorneys and supporters have repeatedly called his testimony into question.

Koopman was the subject of several civil lawsuits and a criminal charge of attempting to influence a public servant.

A jury cleared him of the criminal charge in April 2016, but opponents point to his placement on a "Brady list" in Weld County. The list refers to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 1963 that requires defendants to know about evidence that could help acquit a defendant, including information that calls into question a police officer's testimony. However, Larimer County District Attorney Cliff Riedel has previously said he has seen no evidence to place Koopman on such a list in the 8th Judicial District.

Koopman also fought a lawsuit from Jeremy C. Myers, who alleged  Koopman and others, including the 8th Judicial District Attorney,  violated his constitutional rights when police searched his property in September 2007 in Loveland and then charged Myers with making methamphetamine. The charges were dropped a couple of months later. 

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All claims but one and all defendants other than Koopman named in the lawsuit were dismissed in 2010 and 2011. The city of Loveland's insurance provider settled on the last claim — an alleged violation of Myers' Fourth Amendment rights — for an undisclosed amount of money early this year. 

The detective fought  another lawsuit filed by a former Loveland police colleague, Tammy Fisher, in January 2015. Fisher was accused of tipping off the Romaneks during the child pornography investigation. Her lawsuit alleged Koopman had violated her constitutional rights and accused him of malicious prosecution without probable cause, in connection to the Romanek investigation. The lawsuit was dismissed in May.

Former Police Chief Luke Hecker was also named in the suit. Hecker retired early at the end of 2015 amid the increased scrutiny about Koopman and the department.

Reporter Saja Hindi covers public safety and local politics. You can follow her on Twitter @BySajaHindi or email her at shindi@coloradoan.com.