Embattled jail guard fired
Post Independent Staff
GLENWOOD SPRINGS – The Garfield County Jail detention officer investigated for alleged sexual assault of a female prisoner was fired Aug. 18 by Sheriff Lou Vallario.
The detention officer, whose name was not released, was accused of having sexual relations with a 28-year-old inmate at the jail on July 1. The Glenwood Springs Police Department investigated four possible criminal acts: sexual assault, unlawful sexual contact, unlawful sexual conduct in a penal institution and first-degree official misconduct. The department then supplied its findings to 14th Judicial District Attorney Bonnie Roesink’s office.
Roesink – who was handed the case by 9th District Attorney Mac Myers to avoid any conflicts of interest – determined that the charges wouldn’t be prosecutable.
Vallario then initiated an internal administrative investigation.
“He declined to answer questions I asked him, so I terminated him,” Vallario said.
Vallario said because no criminal charges were filed, he’s not allowed to release the detention officer’s name.
Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511
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