Half of Rural Colorado Sheriff's Department Indicted on Serious Charges
In a stunning development, half of the Costilla County Sheriff's Department in rural Colorado has been indicted on a range of charges, including abuse of a corpse and official misconduct. The indictments stem from two separate incidents that have severely undermined public confidence in local law enforcement.
Mishandling of Human Remains Leads to Resignations
Former Sheriff Danny Sanchez, 63, and former Deputy Keith Schultz, 45, were charged last Friday with four counts of official misconduct and one count of abuse of a corpse. The charges relate to their handling of human remains discovered on October 2, 2024. According to reports from 9 News, both men have since resigned from their positions.
The case began when a resident of Costilla County, located just north of the New Mexico border, contacted the sheriff's office to report finding human remains, including a skull, teeth, and other bones. Sanchez and Schultz responded to the property but collected only the skull, leaving the other remains behind.
A grand jury indictment revealed disturbing details about the investigation. "Sheriff Danny R. Sanchez was present at the time of collection, but was only on scene briefly and was reported to be more interested in looking for arrowheads than investigating the human remains," the document stated.
Evidence Bag Scandal and Delayed Reporting
The coroner's office later received the skull in what "appeared to be a used paper grocery bag, not a forensic evidence bag," according to the indictment. The bag lacked any markings or labeling describing the items, the date or location of collection, the identity of the collector, or the chain of custody. It also had no tape or seals to protect the integrity of the evidence.
The resident who discovered the remains followed up with the sheriff's office about the investigation but was informed the case was closed. When requesting the police report, they received a document dated December 31, 2024—nearly three months after the initial discovery.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, the resident contacted the 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office on August 18, 2025. This prompted the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to return to the property the following day to collect the remains that had been left behind.
Separate Incident Involving Use of Force
In a separate case, three other employees of the sheriff's office were indicted on Friday on charges related to the use of force against a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Undersheriff Cruz Soto, 43, Sergeant Caleb Sanchez, 25, and Deputy Roland Riley, 31, each face charges in this incident. Notably, Caleb Sanchez is the son of former Sheriff Danny Sanchez.
The grand jury indictment states that Caleb Sanchez and Riley deployed Tasers on a man having a mental health crisis at the sheriff's department. Soto was present during the incident but did nothing to stop the use of force. The deputies involved failed to inform the sheriff of the event, did not document it, and no use-of-force investigation was ever conducted.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Caleb Sanchez and Riley were each charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Soto faces charges of third-degree assault, two counts of failure to report force—both misdemeanors—and four counts of official misconduct.
In announcing the indictments, 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly emphasized her commitment to justice. "I cannot and will not ignore violations of the trust that a community should have in their police. No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force," Kelly stated during a Friday news conference.
Immediate Fallout and Future Steps
An emergency county commissioners' meeting was held on Monday to appoint Joe Smith, a current sheriff's office employee, as the temporary sheriff. Voters will select a new sheriff in the November election. According to the Associated Press, there are seven law enforcement officials on staff at the Costilla County Sheriff's Office. The undersheriff and deputies indicted in the case are currently on administrative leave.
Danny Sanchez, Soto, Riley, and Caleb Sanchez are due in court on Wednesday morning. No court date has been set for Schultz at this time. These developments highlight significant challenges within the department and raise serious questions about accountability and professionalism in rural law enforcement agencies.
