A former Montezuma County sheriff’s deputy faces charges of official misconduct and theft after an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation concluded in late April, according to a Tuesday news release by 22nd Judicial District Attorney Will Furse.
As a result of the investigation, former Patrol Sgt. Adam Alcon faces a charge of theft between $2,000 and $5,000, which is a Class 6 felony, and a first-degree misconduct charge, which is a Class 2 misdemeanor, according to Furse.
Alcon had worked for the sheriff’s office for 11 years and four months when he was terminated as a result of the investigation on April 24, Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin said.
Alcon is suspected of stealing sheriff’s equipment between Jan. 1 and April 1, including an ITT night vision goggle set, a patrol rifle scope and about 200 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition, in order to sell them to outside parties. Nowlin said a department employee found out in April that the items were being sold, and CBI investigators traced them to Alcon.
Nowlin also said department policy has changed as a result of the crime, and he’s not aware of evidence that Alcon had stolen equipment before.
“Right away, we tightened up our inventories even more,” he said. “We now require supervisors to verify their policies on a regular basis.”
According to Furse, Alcon could face 12 to 18 months in the Department of Corrections and/or a fine of $1,000 to $100,000 for the Class 6 felony if he is convicted. A Class 2 misdemeanor is punishable by 3 to 12 months in jail and/or a fine of $250 to $1,000.
Alcon doesn’t yet have a court date, as Furse said charges from the DA’s office typically take 30 to 40 days for the courts to process. Alcon’s case was one of two recently concluded CBI investigations into Montezuma County law enforcement officials. Reuben Liska, of the Cortez Police Department, is being charged with official misconduct in connection with a Jan. 21 incident in which he allegedly had “inappropriate physical contact” with someone who reported a crime, Furse said.