A former Montezuma County undersheriff charged with 17 felony counts of embezzlement will go to trial next spring.
Projected to last two weeks, the trial for Robin Cronk was set on Thursday, Nov. 21, by District Court Judge Todd Plewe. During last week's proceedings, Plewe also denied a defense motion to modify Cronk's bond stipulations.
Public defender Katharine Whitney requested that her client, now a resident of Phoenix, Ariz., be allowed to travel across the contiguous 48 states for a job within the transportation industry.
"There's no reason Mr. Cronk wouldn't come to his court appearances," Whitney proclaimed.
District Attorney Will Furse opposed lifting the bond stipulations, adding it would provide "special treatment" that he is not willing to concede.
Cronk was previously granted permission to travel throughout the Four Corners, an already "somewhat unusual" bond condition, Plewe replied.
"I'm very uncomfortable with Mr. Cronk traveling to all 48 states," Plewe said in denying the request. "He can seek employment in four states already."
Plewe further explained that bond stipulations are designed to restrict personal liberties. Arizona authorities have already apprehended Cronk while out on bond for the pending case, Plewe added.
During the proceedings, Cronk sat at a defense counsel table, jotting down notes from time to time as Whitney explained that she intends to file multiple motions in coming weeks. Future requests include disqualifying Plewe from presiding over the case, disqualify Furse from prosecuting the charges, filing a change of venue demand and renewing a gag order against the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office, Whitney said.
Those motions will be heard at 9 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2014. The trial date is April 21, 2014.
A Montezuma County grand jury indicted Cronk on 17 counts of felony embezzlement charges in August.
The alleged public corruption stems from his abuse of multiple Montezuma County Sheriff's Office financial accounts for personal gunsmithing services, vehicle maintenance, holsters, generators, gun components, ammunition and firearms over a 26-month span starting in February 2011. Records show Cronk left taxpayers holding a $7,415.36 bill for his personal items.
Cronk was tapped as undersheriff in January 2011. He was forced to resign the post in June due to the public corruption allegations. He is currently free on a $1,500 bond.
Cronk was declared indigent and eligible to receive court appointed counsel despite earning more than $6,000 a month as undersheriff.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com