COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) — A judge in Colorado Springs has dismissed all charges against a former sheriff accused of abusing his power after two juries deadlocked on some of the allegations.
Prosecutors decided to re-try former El Paso County sheriff Terry Maketa after a jury in July found him not guilty on several charges and deadlocked on others, including felony extortion.
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Terry Maketa in court (credit: CBS)
The second trial ended on Feb. 5 when jurors acquitted Maketa of two counts of official misconduct and deadlocked on extortion charges.
READ MORE: COVID In Colorado: National Jewish Administers Johnson & Johnson VaccineProsecutors earlier this month asked to dismiss all charges and said they respect jurors’ decisions.
MORE NEWS: Police: Kyle Daugherty Drove Stolen Aston Martin To Dealership, Fraudulently Paid For PorscheMaketa was accused of threatening to end a $5.3 million contract with the county jail’s health provider if it did not fire an employee who refused to support a favorite of Maketa’s to succeed him as sheriff.