Castle Rock, CO – A Douglas County jury has found 65-year-old Daniel Fougner guilty of felony assault on an at-risk adult and felony tampering with physical evidence for a violent attack on an 80-year-old man in Parker last fall.
Prosecutors said Fougner assaulted Richard Wright in October 2024 during a dispute over unpaid money while staying at Wright’s home.
According to trial evidence, Fougner grabbed a 2×4 piece of lumber and struck Wright twice in the head, causing a severe subdural hematoma that doctors said posed a significant risk of death.
After the attack, Fougner reportedly used a garden hose to wash blood from the driveway before fleeing the scene. He was arrested later that day in Castle Rock.
Prosecutors call attack ‘vicious and deliberate’
“Mr. Wright is an 80-year-old man who opened his home and heart to someone down on his luck,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Eva Wilson said in a statement. “When he simply asked to be repaid, he was met with brutal violence. This verdict assures accountability on a man who preyed on the kindness of another.”
Deputy District Attorney Joe Ratner said the jury’s decision reflected the gravity of Fougner’s actions. “After beating Mr. Wright, the defendant tried to wash away the evidence and flee,” Ratner said. “The jury saw through that and delivered justice.”
Victim recovering after hospitalization
Wright was hospitalized at Advent Health Parker, where he was treated in the intensive care unit and is expected to recover.
Fougner faces sentencing in the coming weeks. Conviction for assault on an at-risk adult in Colorado carries enhanced penalties due to the victim’s age and vulnerability.
Prosecutors hailed the verdict as a message that violence against seniors will be pursued aggressively in the 23rd Judicial District.