BOULDER - On Thursday, he was basking in the accolades of Boulder officials who honored him with a prestigious youth award.

Two days later, Jared Sajal Guy was handcuffed and booked into the Boulder County Jail, accused of helping a friend try to cover up the grisly killing of a Lafayette woman.

Guy, 18, was arrested Saturday night at a dance at Standley Lake High School.

Now the recipient of the Metropolitan Mayors and Commissioners Youth Award faces a possible charge of being an accessory to murder after the fact.

"That says it all," Guy's uncle, Jeffrey Guy of Westminster, said Tuesday. "How do you go from getting an award like that to getting in trouble?"

Jeffrey Guy said that his nephew has achieved a lot in his short life.

"I feel bad for the kid because he made a bad decision," he said.

Friends and family of the Westminster teen were left scratching their heads Tuesday, trying to understand how the young man's life could change so quickly.

Police have accused Guy of helping his best friend, Bryan Grove, try to dispose of Linda Damm's body. Guy told investigators that Grove, 17, sought his help after telling him that he had killed the woman because she was attacking her daughter.

Most of Guy's classmates at New Vista High School followed their teachers' suggestions not to talk to the media, but those who did painted a picture of a sweet and non-aggressive, although easily influenced, young man.

"He's a good-hearted, innocent kid," New Vista senior Dan Mills said. "But he doesn't have a good sense of self. He would help his friends no matter what. But whatever he did, he doesn't deserve any jail time."

Guy was born in Calcutta, India, 18 years ago, according to a biography attached to the youth award he won last week.

The award recognizes teens who have overcome challenges and personal adversities to make significant strides and positive changes.

Guy was adopted before his first birthday and brought to the U.S. by his new family.

He had a tough time adjusting to America, changing schools four times as he tried to find a comfortable setting in an uncomfortable climate. His looks sparked many of his peers to call him a terrorist, the biography said.

But he seemed to thrive at New Vista, where he was on the volleyball team. His extracurricular activities including working with the Movement to End Sexual Assault and being a peer educator for Peers Building Justice.

Recently, he gave a speech on gender violence to more than 200 students.

"He was a little out there, but he was a good guy," volleyball coach Daniel Henderson said. "He was always a team player, never shrunk in his support of his teammates. He never got in trouble."

Henderson described New Vista as a place that puts more emphasis on the quality of academics than on the quantity.

"Jared fit in a lot better here than he probably would have anywhere else," he said of the 300-student school. "He was always thrilled to be a part of whatever was going on.

"The only way I could see him being included in anything like this would be out of respect and loyalty to his friends."

Guy's uncle said his family is behind him, but realizes that even if his involvement began and ended with helping transport the body, he made a big mistake.

Mills said, "Jared did have plenty of friends here.

"It's really sad," he said. "I'm crossing my fingers for him. It's a tragic thing. Everyone is really shocked here."

The affidavit

Excerpts from an affidavit filed in support of the arrest of 18-year-old Jared Sajal Guy in connection with the slaying of Linda Damm

• "Bryan (Grove) told Jared (Guy) the night it happened, Linda was drunk and chasing Tess around the house. Tess called Bryan and asked him to come over to help her. When Bryan arrived, Linda was choking Tess so Bryan threw Linda off of Tess. Bryan reported to Jared that Linda came at him with a switch blade knife. Bryan then took the knife from Linda and stabbed her with it."

• After Jared Guy expressed skepticism, "Bryan asked Jared if he wanted to see the body as proof. Jared followed Bryan into the garage . . . Jared then opened the car and lifted the sheet so that he could see Linda. Jared described the body as 'not a pretty sight.' "

• "Jared reported that Bryan made the statement 'the house is mine now.' . . . Jared reported that in front of Tess, Bryan tried to be 'up beat' to make things more comfortable for Tess, but he did not seem himself. Jared reported that when they were along on the ride back to his house, Bryan 'broke down,' and was crying. Jared reported that Bryan made the statements, 'I f----- up,' 'I feel horrible,' and 'I don't know what's going to happen.' "

• "Jared reported the following night, Brian, Tess and him took the body to the cemetery near his school, New Vista High School in Boulder. Jared reported that they found a spot next to a tree and dug a shallow grave. Jared reported they did not bury the body deep enough and there was a hump. Jared reported they got spooked by someone Bryan believed to be a police officer. They left the cemetery and dropped off the Subaru at the house in Lafayette . . . Bryan told Jared he could not leave the body there because it was not buried good enough. Jared and Bryan took Tess home . . . Jared reported they dug up the body and placed it in the back of the Subaru. They then returned to Lafayette and parked the car in the garage."

• "Jared said he did try to tell Bryan again that he needed to turn himself in if it was self defense. Bryan did not listen. Jared said he gave up and just tried to focus on straightening out his own life. Jared stated he needed to focus on his grades and graduating."

scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-442-8729

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