The confrontation erupted during a hearing in a fatal July crash case involving a 12-year-old boy.
LITTLETON, Colo. — A defense attorney was hospitalized this week after a man allegedly body slammed him in a courthouse hallway, an incident authorities say unfolded as families gathered for a hearing related to a deadly summer traffic crash in Arapahoe County.
The injured lawyer, identified as H. Michael Steinberg, 69, had been representing 19-year-old Christopher Ramirez-Rodriguez, who faces a count of careless driving resulting in death. Investigators say the attacker is Daniel Alexander Ashby, 36, a relative of the child killed in the July collision. Deputies arrested Ashby on suspicion of second-degree assault and booked him into the Arapahoe County jail. A judge set bond at $75,000 while prosecutors evaluate the case for formal charges, according to officials familiar with the booking.
Authorities said the confrontation began when Ashby moved through a corridor outside the courtroom during the hearing. The arrest paperwork says Steinberg tried to create distance as Ashby approached, then Ashby lifted the attorney and executed what witnesses described as an “MMA-style takedown,” driving him to the floor. Steinberg lost consciousness and later learned he had multiple spinal fractures and a shattered pelvis. In an email message from the hospital, Steinberg said he was in “serious pain” and scheduled for surgery Thursday. Deputies and courthouse staff cleared the hallway, called medics and paused the docket while the lawyer was transported.
The underlying criminal case centers on a July crash investigators say happened when a driver ran a red light, striking a vehicle and killing a 12-year-old. Ramirez-Rodriguez was cited for careless driving resulting in death, a misdemeanor traffic offense that can carry jail time. People familiar with the courtroom said tensions between relatives had been rising in recent weeks as the case lingered on the calendar. A judge previously admonished both sides to avoid contact and reminded attendees that security rules apply beyond the metal detectors. Officials said no additional arrests were made in the hallway and no weapons were recovered.
Arapahoe County court operations are split between facilities in Littleton and Centennial, where daily calendars can crowd corridors with attorneys, witnesses and families. Longtime practitioners said crowded hallways, limited seating and emotionally charged cases can strain security even with screening at the door. Records reviewed by reporters show Ashby has prior court matters unrelated to this incident, though details were not immediately released by officials. The sheriff’s office said investigators are collecting surveillance footage from cameras positioned near the courtroom entrance and interviewing additional witnesses.
Prosecutors will decide whether to file an information or seek indictment-level charges, then set an advisement hearing for Ashby. A status conference in Ramirez-Rodriguez’s traffic case remains on the docket, with scheduling expected to resume after the hallway incident. If formal charges are filed in the assault case, a judge could revisit bond terms, order protection provisions and set a preliminary hearing date. Court administrators said updates will appear on the daily docket boards and announced that regular screening and staffing would continue as planned.
Outside the building, people who identified themselves as friends of the grieving family said emotions have run high since the child’s death. “It’s been months, and it still feels like yesterday,” said a man who declined to give his full name because of the pending cases. Attorneys leaving afternoon dockets described the injured lawyer as experienced and steady in court. “He’s well known here,” one practitioner said. “No one wants to see violence in the halls where we work.”
As of Friday, Ashby remained in custody pending the prosecutor’s filing decision. Steinberg had surgery and remained under observation, according to people familiar with his treatment. The next expected update is the filing of formal counts and the scheduling of Ashby’s first appearance early next week.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.