Former El Paso County Sheriff Indicted on Extortion, Kidnapping
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4)- Former El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa has been indicted by a grand jury in Arapahoe County. Among the charges, felony extortion, kidnapping and witness tampering.
At one time, Maketa was one of the most highly regarded sheriffs in Colorado when he was the face of the Black Forest Fire. His fall from grace began when images surfaced of the so-called "shirtless sheriff."
He became entangled in controversy during his last year in office in 2014 when he was accused of having sex with subordinates and giving those women preferential treatment.
Those allegations included a sexual relationship with then El Paso County Undersheriff Paula Presley.
Maketa denied the claims as county commissioners called for his resignation. He eventually submitted retirement papers in June 2014 and apologized.
El Paso County paid more than $200,000 to settle those sexual harassment claims.
Maketa is facing new allegations that include felony extortion, kidnapping and witness tampering. Presley is also named in the Arapahoe Grand Jury indictment for the same nine counts.
The charges stem from incidents in 2013 including allegations Maketa and Presley had the victim of a domestic violence case recant her story. That victim's attacker was an El Paso County deputy who had a working friendship with then Sheriff Maketa.
The charges allege that in order for the deputy to get his job back, Maketa and Presley forced the victim to say she assaulted the deputy which led to her arrest.
Other charges stem from an alleged incident where Maketa and Presley forced a health care company that provides service to the local jail to fire an employee or their $5 million contract would be terminated.
