A rural Colorado sheriff’s office is at the center of a jaw-dropping scandal after the sheriff, his son, and several other current and former deputies were indicted on a list of disturbing charges.
Authorities say Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez, former Deputy Keith Schultz, Undersheriff Cruz Soto, Sgt. Caleb Sanchez, and Deputy Roland Riley were all charged after a grand jury investigated two separate incidents that prosecutors say exposed deeply troubling conduct inside the department.
And the allegations are hard to ignore.
According to court records, the first case began in October 2024 when a man found a human skull, teeth, and other remains on a remote mountain property and contacted the sheriff’s office.
Former Deputy Keith Schultz was reportedly the first person sent to the scene and told the man the remains would be collected later. But when Schultz and Sheriff Danny Sanchez returned, the witness said they only took the skull and left the rest of the remains behind.
Then things got even worse.
Court documents say the skull was later found inside an evidence bag with no markings, no labels, no documentation showing who collected it, no proper chain of custody, and no seals to protect the evidence. Investigators also said the skull matched photos taken at the scene, but the teeth with dental work were missing, along with the rest of the remains.
That incident led to charges including official misconduct and corpse abuse.
The second case is just as disturbing.
In February, prosecutors say Undersheriff Cruz Soto, Sgt. Caleb Sanchez, and Deputy Roland Riley used force against a man who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
According to court documents, the man said he believed he was free to leave because no one told him he was under arrest or facing charges. But when deputies wanted him to go to the hospital voluntarily, he decided he did not want to stay.
As he tried to walk away, he said deputies tased him and roughed him up.
The man later told investigators he suffered broken ribs during the encounter. No criminal charges were ever filed against him.
Officials said all five men turned themselves in and were expected to post bond.
The charges vary by person, but they include official misconduct, corpse abuse, assault, failure to intervene, and failure to report use of force.
The scandal has rocked the San Luis Valley, especially because four of the indicted men are reportedly among only seven current law enforcement officers in the sheriff’s office.
District Attorney Anne Kelly said she would not ignore violations of the public’s trust and made it clear that no one in the community should have to question the integrity of law enforcement.
