Half of sheriff’s office indicted on charges, including abuse of a corpse, authorities say

COSTILLA COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV/Gray News) - Half of a Colorado sheriff’s office has been indicted on multiple charges, including abuse of a corpse.

According to the district attorney’s office, Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former Deputy Keith Schultz were indicted on four counts each of official misconduct and one count each of abuse of a corpse.

Officials said those charges stem from actions taken in the discovery of unidentified human remains in the county.

According to an affidavit, the sheriff’s office collected the remains in a paper grocery bag, which was left in an unsecured location, and some of the remains, including teeth, had been lost.

Two months passed before Schultz wrote a report, saying he left bones in a bag on his desk and went on another call. A coroner’s official told the Associated Press that he received the skull in an unlabeled paper bag from the sheriff’s office.

Officials said Undersheriff Cruz Soto was also indicted on two counts of failing to intervene and one count of third-degree assault stemming from his involvement in a case of unlawful use of force on a man who had suffered a mental health crisis.

The DA’s office said Sheriff Sanchez’s son, Sergeant Caleb Sanchez, was also indicted on counts of second- and third-degree assault for use of force related to the same case.

A person at the sheriff’s office said there are seven law enforcement officials on staff, AP reported.