Prosecutors in southwestern Colorado say a falsified a speeding ticket, used a computer system without authorization and abused his power as a law officer.
The case against John Cox, who resigned Monday from his post in Mancos, was laid out Wednesday in court filings provided to The Denver Post.
Cox faces six criminal counts, including perjury, false reporting and a computer crime, in two cases filed against him this week in Montezuma County.
The court documents show officials believe Cox committed official misconduct by committing his alleged crimes while in his capacity as Mancos’ top law officer.
William Furse, the 22nd Judicial District attorney, said Cox will be served a summons in the cases. Furse declined to comment further on the charge.
Cox was investigated by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and officials say his alleged crimes spanned Aug. 1 to October.
The trustees in Mancos, southwest of Durango, accepted Cox’s resignation at a special meeting Monday night. Andrea Phillips, the town’s administrator, declined to say why Cox was placed on leave Nov. 4, calling the move a “personnel issue.”
He was arrested last week in La Plata County on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Cox served as the town’s marshal for roughly two years. Phillips said he was working as a police officer in Indiana before he was appointed in Mancos.
Town officials have picked Jason Spruell, a deputy in the now two-person marshal’s office, to take over the department in the interim.
“We are going to start advertising for a new town marshal,” Phillips said. “We’re a small town, and we do want to thank him for his service and wish him the best.”
Mancos is a Montezuma County town of about 1,400 southwest of Durango and near the Four Corners.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
