Plea Deal Likely For Former Elbert County Assessor
DENVER (CBS4) - Former Elbert County Assessor P.J. Trostel has reached a tentative plea deal with prosecutors that will negate the need for a trial which was scheduled to begin next week.
Trostel is facing 26 felony counts and two misdemeanor charges for embezzlement, forgery, theft and perjury.
As reported in previous CBS4 investigations, Trostel was accused of using her county credit card to buy gift cards and electronics like camcorders and printers that ended up in her home, not in the assessor's office.
Under the proposed plea deal, confirmed by Trostel's attorney Marc Colin, Trostel will plead guilty to two felonies and all 26 other charges will be dropped. Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Colin said Trostel will plead guilty in connection with one "event … there were eight separate events," Colin said. "Many of which we dispute. She will be pleading to one event."
Colin said a Judge will need to sign off on the plea bargain and a sentencing hearing would occur in August, if the plea agreement is accepted.
Trostel has never returned numerous calls and e-mails from CBS4. She is married to Mark Trostel, former chief of the Colorado State Patrol until he retired in 2009.
Republican voters in Elbert County rejected Trostel's bid for re-election last year, backing her opponent instead.
Trostel's trial was scheduled to begin next Monday.
