In a sweeping indictment that has rattled the local community and raised questions about law‑enforcement conduct, a grand jury in Colorado’s Twelfth Judicial District has charged the county’s sheriff, undersheriff, a former deputy, and a current deputy with a range of serious offenses. The charges span from the improper handling of human remains to assault and unlawful use of force. The case, which centers on a discovery of a human skull and associated bones in the remote Wild Horse Mesa area, also involves an alleged incident of force against a person experiencing a mental‑health crisis. The indictment, released on March 27, 2024, marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of police behavior in the state.
The Alleged Abuse of Human Remains
On October 2, 2024, a local resident stumbled upon a skull and several teeth with silver‑colored dental work on his property in the Wild Horse Mesa region of Costilla County. According to the indictment, Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former deputy Keith Schultz were the first to arrive on the scene. While they retrieved the skull, they allegedly left the rest of the remains untouched, a decision that has been described as “unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly” treating the body in a manner that would outrage normal family sensibilities.
The indictment further alleges that the sheriff and former deputy engaged in official misconduct by mishandling the remains and failing to follow proper protocols for securing a potential crime scene. The charges reflect a broader concern about how law‑enforcement officers handle evidence, especially when it involves human remains.
Charges Against Sheriff Danny Sanchez and Former Deputy Keith Schultz
Both men face a single count of abuse of a corpse, a charge that carries significant legal and ethical implications. In addition, each is charged with five counts of official misconduct related to the handling of the remains. The indictment also notes that the sheriff and former deputy were each charged with assault, though the specific details of that assault are not fully disclosed in the public release.
According to the district attorney’s office, the sheriff’s actions were “unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly” and were carried out without any statutory or court‑ordered authority. The indictment’s language underscores the seriousness of the alleged misconduct and the potential impact on the families of the deceased.
Other Indicted Officers and the Mental Health Incident
In addition to Sanchez and Schultz, the indictment names Costilla County undersheriff Cruz Soto and Sheriff Sanchez’s son, Sergeant Caleb Sanchez. Both officers were charged with unlawful use of force stemming from an incident on February 3, 2024, in which a person experiencing a mental‑health crisis was allegedly subjected to excessive or inappropriate force. The indictment does not provide a full narrative of the event, but it does indicate that the officers’ conduct was deemed unlawful by the grand jury.
While the indictment’s details about the mental‑health incident remain limited, the inclusion of these charges signals a broader pattern of alleged misconduct within the sheriff’s office. The case has prompted calls for a thorough review of departmental policies and training, especially regarding the treatment of vulnerable individuals.
Legal Process and Implications
The indictment was made public by the Colorado Judicial Branch, which maintains an online database of active cases. The grand jury’s decision to indict reflects a determination that the evidence presented was sufficient to charge the officers with the alleged crimes. The next steps in the legal process will involve arraignment, pre‑trial motions, and potentially a trial if the defendants choose not to plead guilty.
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