KIOWA — Former Elbert County Assessor P.J. Trostel could face up to 18 years in prison if a judge finds aggravating factors in the two crimes she pleaded guilty to Friday.
Trostel, 57, pleaded guilty to embezzling public property and influencing a public servant. In exchange, the 26 other charges against her were dropped.
Elbert County Judge Jeffrey Holmes approved the plea deal. Trostel will be sentenced Sept. 23.
Holmes said the sentencing range on the embezzlement charge is from six months to six years in prison, with a typical sentence of one to three years. The charge also carries a fine of up to $100,000.
Holmes said the sentencing range on the influencing charge, which stems from Trostel turning in false purchase orders to the county, is from one to 12 years, and is typically two to six years. The fine associated with that charge is up to $500,000.
“The court will find that there are facts that support the pleas,” Holmes said.
Trostel appeared in court with her lawyer, Marc Colin. She did not comment about the deal after the hearing.
Trostel was indicted by a grand jury in September on charges that included embezzlement, forgery, theft and perjury. She was also 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.
Prosecutor Laura Rosenthal said the embezzlement charge stems from crimes Trostel committed from March 2007 to June 2008. They included purchasing seven Wal-Mart gift cards with a county credit card to buy personal items such as clothing and hair-coloring products. Rosenthal also said Trostel purchased a camcorder and printers using county money.
Trostel on Friday also admitted to turning in reimbursement forms for training she never took.
She agreed to pay restitution that will be determined before the sentencing hearing in September. The amount being discussed was not available.
Trostel, the wife of former Colorado State Patrol Chief Mark Trostel, lost her re-election bid in the Republican primary in August. Elbert County commissioners placed her on paid leave in September and cut off her access to county accounts.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
