CONEJOS — The Conejos Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has declared a vacancy in District 1 following the resignation of longtime commissioner John Sandoval.
Sandoval, 53, resigned April 2 as part of an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to perjury in the second degree in exchange for dropping charges stemming from a Statewide Grand Jury indictment on three tax complaints and one count of theft over $5,000, all class 5 felonies.
Appearing before Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones March 28, Sandoval initialed court papers indicating he would resign from the office of county commissioner as well as any other elected or appointed public offices he might hold, and would never again seek out or run for any public office of trust or profit, elected appointed or otherwise, in Colorado due to a provision in the State Constitution that makes him ineligible.
He was not present for the April 4 regular BOCC meeting, allowing his letter of resignation to do the speaking.
The letter was short and accepted by Commissioners Steve McCarroll and Mitch Jarvies.
“It has been a pleasure serving the citizens and staff of Conejos County,” Sandoval wrote. “In particular, I would like to thank the elected officials and county administration for all of your help over the years.”
Sentencing will be at 8:30 a.m. May 9 and Sandoval is expected to have completed all terms of his plea agreement. Otherwise, he could be sentenced to jail time.