KIOWA — Elbert County Assessor P.J. Trostel entered a plea of not guilty Monday morning on 28 criminal charges.
Elbert County District Judge Jeffrey Holmes set a trial date for March 22. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
A grand jury indicted Trostel, 57, in September on 28 counts, including embezzlement, forgery, theft and perjury.
Trostel is accused of using her county credit card to purchase gift cards and then buy personal items, such as hair coloring and clothing.
She also is accused in the indictment of purchasing a digital camcorder and two printers with public funds.
The judge was set to schedule a motions hearing for December, but Trostel’s attorney, Marc Colin, said he needed more time to go over several thousand pieces of evidence.
Trostel was placed on paid leave in September after her indictment, and county commissioners cut off her access to county accounts.
Trostel lost her bid for re-election in the August Republican primary. Current Elbert County Treasurer Billie Mills will be sworn in as the county’s new assessor in January after being elected to the office last week.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
