Elbert County’s former assessor, accused of theft, embezzlement and other charges, has apparently reached a tentative plea deal on the eve of her trial.
P.J. Trostel, 57, was to go on trial Monday after she was indicted by an Elbert County grand jury last year on 28 charges.
Casimir Spencer, spokeswoman for District Attorney Carol Chambers, said a possible plea agreement will be discussed at a previously scheduled hearing Friday. She would not elaborate.
KCNC-Channel 4 first reported the tentative plea deal Tuesday evening. The report said Trostel will plead guilty to two felonies, and the other 26 charges, which include two misdemeanors, would be dropped, her lawyer Marc Colin said.
It was not clear whether Trostel would avoid any jail time. Colin did not return phone calls Wednesday for comment.
A grand jury indicted Trostel in September on charges that included embezzlement, forgery, theft and perjury. She is accused of using her county credit card to purchase gift cards and then buy personal items.
She is also accused of purchasing two printers with public funds. And she kept money that was intended for county-fair royalty, according to the indictment.
Trostel lost her bid for re-election in the Republican primary in August. Elbert County commissioners placed her on paid leave in September and cut off her access to county accounts.
Current Elbert County Assessor Billie Mills had posted an alert on the county’s website, advising residents that her office would be closed for several days next week because of the trial. Employees of the current office were expected to testify. But, Mills said, that alert was taken down Tuesday afternoon.
The judge still must sign off on the plea deal, which could occur at Friday’s hearing in Kiowa.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
