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Arapahoe County Courts Can't Find Thousands In Cash

Written by Brian Maass CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A CBS4 investigation has learned that administrators for the 18th Judicial District have been unable to locate about $6,000 in cash that was evidence in a criminal case.

"It was reported to me by a court reporter," said Laurie McKager, District Administrator for the 18th Judicial District, which covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.

McKager said she was told about the missing cash in July of 2011 and she filed a report with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. Asked if the money had been misplaced or stolen, McKager declined to say more.

"I think there's an ongoing investigation," she said.

The money and other evidence and exhibits from trials, such as weapons and drugs, is stored in multiple locations at the Arapahoe County Justice Center located at 7325 South Potomac St. in Centennial.

McKager turned down a CBS4 request to view the evidence storage areas in question.

"The security of these areas is paramount and would be compromised by providing tours to any member of the public who asked," McKager said.

Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers told CBS4 the investigation has now been turned over to the Colorado Attorney General's Office.

"When we became aware of it we asked the attorney general to look into it," Chambers said. "Its best for an independent third party to look into it."

Mike Saccone, a spokesperson for the Colorado Attorney General's Office, declined to discuss the missing money and declined to provide any reports pertaining to the unaccounted for cash.

"We are going to decline to provide the incident report at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation," Saccone said.

Court administrator McKager said she believed the money that's missing is connected to a drug case which she said is being appealed. She said she did not believe the lost cash would compromise the case in any way.

The chief judge for the 18th Judicial District, William Sylvester, also declined a CBS4 interview request.

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