A grieving Colorado uncle allegedly body-slammed the defense attorney who was representing his nephew’s accused killer, knocking him unconscious and fracturing his spine.

Daniel Ashby, 36, was charged with second-degree assault for using an “MMA-style takedown” on attorney H. Michael Steinberg inside the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Littleton, Colo., on Monday, CBS Colorado reported.

Ashby was attending a court hearing for 19-year-old Christopher Ramirez-Rodriguez, who is accused of running a red light and killing Ashby’s 12-year-old nephew in July.

Steinberg was representing Ramirez-Rodriguez when Ashby allegedly “aggressively approached” him in the hallway outside the courtroom while trying “to see the defendant,” according to an arrest record obtained by the outlet.

Police said Steinberg pushed Ashby back to create space, after which Ashby allegedly carried out an “MMA-style takedown,” which left the longtime lawyer unconscious.

Steinberg — who has frequently appeared as a guest on CNN and Fox News — was rushed to a local hospital, where he was treated for multiple spinal fractures.

In an email sent Tuesday, Steinberg told CBS Colorado he also suffered a “shattered pelvis,” was in “serious pain,” and is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday.

Ashby was immediately taken into custody at the courthouse. Court officials said the hallway incident was not captured on video.

Ashby is being held at the Arapahoe County Jail on a $75,000 bond and is due back in court Friday in connection with the alleged assault, according to jail records viewed by The Post.

Ashby’s older brother, Michael Ashby — the father of the 12-year-old victim — said he attended Monday’s hearing but did not witness the incident.

He said the entire family has been attending court proceedings and that emotions were running high.

“The whole family is frustrated with this legal system,” Michael Ashby told CBS Colorado, adding that there has been significant tension between the two families.

https://nypost.com/2025/12/12/...racturing-his-spine/

That uncle needs to go to jail for a very long time.

NOTHING justifies this kind of attack.

Should have body slammed the killer.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Should have body slammed the killer.

4th paragraph down: "Steinberg was representing Ramirez-Rodriguez when Ashby allegedly “aggressively approached” him in the hallway outside the courtroom while trying “to see the defendant,”

quote:

Police said Steinberg pushed Ashby back to create space, after which Ashby allegedly carried out an “MMA-style takedown

Based on limited inf of above:
Sounds like Steinberg made first contact. maybe he should be charged.

Really dumb move, when it's time for Ashby's sentencing judge will likely make a statement.

quote:

Originally posted by gjgalligan:

quote:

Police said Steinberg pushed Ashby back to create space, after which Ashby allegedly carried out an “MMA-style takedown

Based on limited inf of above:
Sounds like Steinberg made first contact. maybe he should be charged.

If Ashby got in Steinberg's face and presented an immediate danger (and it certainly appears that way), pushing him back would seem very reasonable vs the body slam Ashby administered. If we're to have a system of justice instead of the alternative of anarchy (or Shira law), Ashby's actions will result in serious prison time. There's nothing to indicate that Steinberg was doing anything wrong, unless you consider insuring his client's constitutional rights were respected by the court was "wrong."

quote:

Originally posted by Biker_dude:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Should have body slammed the killer.

4th paragraph down:…….

Yes, I read it. That’s why I said….

^^^^^^
Based on facts in evidence, the uncle made the first move. Shoving the uncle back after he tried to gain access to the accused is what I would consider reasonable force in response to a threat.

It is irrelevant whether the accused really killed the child or not. There is no justification for any such attack, not to mention a brutal attack that will affect the lawyer for the rest of his life.

Since it's Colorado I expect the Uncle to be convicted and serve serious jail time while the killer of the child will likely walk free or just receive a slap on the wrist. With that said the Uncle was wrong and should serve jail time for his inappropriate actions.

The OP's NY Post article has 5 more paragraphs and I've highlighted a key one

quote:

Court records show the judge overseeing the case later warned both families against “taking justice into their own hands.”

According to public records cited by the outlet, Ashby has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple violations of protective orders and jail sentences.

Ramirez-Rodriguez is accused of killing Ashby’s 12-year-old nephew around 10 a.m. July 19 when he ran a red light as the boy was crossing the road on his electric scooter, the Aurora Police Department said.

Police said he remained at the scene and was cooperative. Drugs or alcohol were not suspected, but distracted driving was being investigated as a contributing factor.

Ramirez-Rodriguez was charged with careless driving resulting in death.

Too bad they don't actually list the lengthy criminal history of the uncle.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
That uncle needs to go to jail for a very long time.

NOTHING justifies this kind of attack.

It seems the only thing the attorney did was deny access to the asshole of his client. The latter, no matter of guilt, has the right to legal representation, and the uncle did not merely "assault" the attorney, but caused great bodily harm. And it turns out the perp has a past criminal record. Assholes who inflict this kind of damage to other innocent people deserve a lot more than a short time in the pen for simple assault.

Another source lists the attorney's age as 69. Spinal fractures, etc., will not heal fast, if ever.

^^^^^^

Checking his website, Steinberg served as a prosecutor for 13 years between 1984 and 1997 shortly after graduation from law school. He launched his own firm in 1999, been an attorney for 42 years.

Just because you want to...

I think it was Forest Gump who said stupid is as stupid does. Being really upset at someone who did harm to your kin - not unreasonable. Wishing all kinds of terrible things happen to such a cretin - maybe not godly, but not hard to understand. Taking vengeance on such a cretin, much less someone doing his job - not okay.

It seems to me that one could know that an individual was lower than eel shit in the bottom of the Marianas Trench, be absolutely positive that the world would be a better place without that individual in it, but still understand that one is not justified in “taking out the trash” (absent a current, real, valid threat to self of innocent other).

On the bright side, maybe they'll be in prison together.

Bad choice. Too bad he didn't reach the defendant. This guy killed a kid so he deserves to be executed yesterday.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeNH:
Bad choice. Too bad he didn't reach the defendant. This guy killed a kid so he deserves to be executed yesterday.

He deserves to be tried for careless driving, then we can start over on what else of anything he deserves.

quote:

Court records show the judge overseeing the case later warned both families against “taking justice into their own hands.”

According to public records cited by the outlet, Ashby has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple violations of protective orders and jail sentences.

Sounds like the court proceedings may have been quite spicy and the judge in hindsight probably should've had more bailiffs to control things both inside and outside the courtroom. Now a lawyer is suffering from life-altering injuries from a confrontation from within the courthouse.