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Former El Paso County Sheriff Appears In Court

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- The former sheriff of El Paso County and two subordinates appeared in court on Thursday, their first such appearance since being indicted on charges including extortion, false imprisonment, official misconduct and kidnapping.

Terry Maketa along with former Undersheriff Paula Presley and former sheriff's commander Juan San Agustin appeared in court in Colorado Springs.

MAKETA COURT
Terry Maketa (credit: CBS)

Maketa was a highly respected sheriff for more than a decade, directing the evacuations of Colorado Springs and Black Forest during massive wildfires. His office also investigated the murder of the head of the Colorado Department of Corrections. His fall from grace included accusations of serious crimes that landed him in front of a judge.

Paula Presley
Paula Presley (credit: Pueblo County)

Maketa was accompanied by attorney Pamela Mackey who previously represented basketball star Kobe Bryant.

In court, his only words came when asked about an order not to contact witnesses.

When the judge asked, "Do you understand and acknowledge the conditions?" Maketa replied, "I do."

Juan San Agustin
Juan San Agustin (credit: Teller County)

The indictment includes charges of extortion involving a jail health care contractor who was allegedly told to fire an employee or lose their contract.

Another count is kidnapping that stems from an incident with a female contract employee at the jail who was in a fight with her deputy boyfriend. The woman claimed Maketa told her the boyfriend could keep his job if she changed her story. She was then arrested and placed in the Douglas County jail.

CBS4 Legal Analyst Karen Steinhauser, a former prosecutor, said it's an unusual use of the kidnapping charge.

MAKETA COURT   (2)
Terry Maketa (credit: CBS)

"The allegation is that she was forced to recant and once she recanted was then placed in jail unlawfully," said Steinhauser.

Unlike the civil cases filed against Maketa, El Paso County will not cover his legal expenses.

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