Five Costilla County Officers — Including Sheriff’s Son — Indicted Over Corpse Mishandling and Use of Force

A grand jury has indicted five current and former members of the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado following two separate incidents that prompted charges ranging from official misconduct and corpse abuse to assault, the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced on March 27.

The defendants named in the indictment are Sheriff Danny Sanchez; former Deputy Keith Schultz; Undersheriff Cruz Soto; Sergeant Caleb Sanchez (the sheriff’s son); and Deputy Roland Riley. Prosecutors say the charges stem from an October 2024 discovery of human remains and a February arrest involving a man in a mental-health crisis.

Alleged Mishandling Of Human Remains

According to court records reviewed by PEOPLE, the first incident began in October 2024 when a resident working on a mountainous property found human remains, including a skull and teeth, and reported the discovery to the sheriff’s office. Deputy Keith Schultz was the initial officer dispatched and told the resident the office would return to collect the remains. When Schultz and Sheriff Sanchez later returned, the resident reported that they took only a skull and left other remains behind.

Court documents state the evidence bag removed “had no markings or labelling describing the items, the date or location of collection, the identity of the collector, or the chain of custody related to the evidence, and had no tape or seals to protect the integrity of the evidence.” The documents added that the bag contained a skull that matched photos from Wild Horse Mesa, but teeth with dental work were missing and no other remains were in the bag.

Prosecutors have charged Sheriff Sanchez and Schultz with official misconduct and corpse abuse in connection with the handling of those remains.

Use Of Force During Mental-Health Encounter

The second incident reportedly occurred in February and involves Undersheriff Cruz Soto, Sgt. Caleb Sanchez and Deputy Roland Riley. Court documents describe a confrontation with a man experiencing a mental-health crisis. The man told investigators he was not informed that he was under arrest or that he could not leave, and that he believed he was free to go.

Costilla County Sheriff's Office in San Luis, ColoCredit: Google Maps

When the man walked away after being urged to go to a hospital “voluntarily,” he says deputies used a Taser and physically restrained him. He reported being “tased and roughed up” and later said he suffered broken ribs. No criminal charges were filed against the man in connection with that encounter.

In the indictment, Soto is charged with failing to intervene, failing to report a use of force, third-degree assault and official misconduct. Sgt. Caleb Sanchez and Deputy Riley face second- and third-degree assault charges.

Prosecutors’ Statement And Next Steps

District Attorney Anne Kelly held a press conference saying all five men voluntarily surrendered and were expected to post bond. “I cannot and will not ignore violations of the trust that a community should have in their police,” Kelly said. “No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force.”

The DA’s office issued a statement emphasizing that the investigation and charges reflect its commitment to enforcing the law regardless of rank or title. The case will proceed through the local court system as attorneys and prosecutors prepare for upcoming hearings.

The developments have drawn attention to policing, evidence-handling procedures and crisis response in sparsely populated Costilla County, where prosecutors noted that four of the five named in the indictment are among only seven sworn officers currently assigned to the sheriff’s office.