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‘It’s very painful’: Costilla County Commissioners scramble to appoint interim sheriff

By Mackenzie Stafford March 31, 2026 9:05 PM Published March 30, 2026 6:22 PM

COSTILLA COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - After 13 Investigates first broke the news that arrest warrants were issued against the Costilla County sheriff and four others, nearly half of the sheriff's office's law enforcement members, the fallout continues.

Sheriff Sanchez resigned from his role after turning himself in. Undersheriff Soto and Deputy Sanchez were placed on administrative leave while the county conducts an investigation, according to Costilla County officials.

The indictments left the department with only three deputies unaffected by the 12th Judicial District Attorney's (DA) Office's investigation. One of those deputies resigned shortly after the allegations were made public, leaving only two deputies to cover the county over the weekend. Costilla County officials tell KRDO13 Deputy Joe Smith and Corporal Adam Fresquez remained on duty throughout the weekend.

On Monday, Costilla County Commissioners appointed Deputy Joe Smith as the interim sheriff to lead the department in the meantime. His appointment came in a special meeting following Sanchez's resignation.

Since there are many people throwing their hats in the ring for the Sheriff election, the board sought a candidate without political ties, according to Commissioner Steven Romero.

"That could either make them or break them. Like it could have really helped them out and help them to become sheriff, which we would have then been seen as political agents instead of, you know, people trying to make the best decision on behalf of the county," explained Commissioner Steven Romero.

He was also hoping to find a candidate who maintained a positive relationship with the district attorney's office. Commissioner Romero said that is part of what made Deputy Smith stand out. This follows prior allegations by the DA regarding the mishandling of evidence under the leadership of Sanchez.

"We need to establish rapport and a good working relationship with the district attorney's office. That, to me, is goal number one, because unless we have that relationship, you know, things are bound to fail again," said Romero.

Commissioner Romero described the situation as a difficult transition for the region. He noted how the commissioners knew of the past allegations of mishandling evidence, so when he heard of the criminal indictment, he said he was not surprised.

"So it wasn't a complete shock. But, you know, it's very painful. It's a very sad day for the county and for us. And, you know, it's just a really painful situation. And so, the initial reaction is to try to, you know, support everybody," explained Romero.

He says he hopes this can create change and ensure that the Costilla County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) is following the proper procedure.

"I hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel," Romero said. "I hope that the growing pains produce something good."

While the office works toward reaching full staffing levels, several agencies are providing support, according to a Costilla County official. They say Colorado State Patrol (CSP), Blanca Town Police and the County Sheriff's Association of Colorado are assisting with patrols and community safety.

Despite the staffing shortage, Commissioner Romero said the county will not allocate additional funds for recruitment or training. He said more than half of the county budget is already dedicated to the sheriff's office and the jail.

"I mean, if we had unlimited resources, it would be a completely different ballgame, right? It's the fact that we do have a very limited budget, it's it's it's a tough, tough position," said Romero.

A representative for the Board of County Commissioners tells KRDO13 that Smith is working on his background check to be sworn in as interim sheriff as soon as possible. A new administrative role will also be created to oversee the operations of the CCSO during the transition, according to Commissioner Romero. He says they are still ironing out the role, but says it will be created by the DA's Office and Commissioners.

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**Despite state law, no police were present at San Antonio-area school during this week’s shooting **

No police officer or school resource officer was present at the Hill Country College Preparatory High School campus in Bulverde at the time of shooting that occurred there Monday, the Express-News reports.

Under Texas law, all public school districts are required to have one armed security guard — a licensed peace officer, school resource officer or commissioned security personnel — on each campus during normal school hours.

Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds told the daily he doesn’t know why the school resource officer provided by the Bulverede Police Department wasn’t present on the public school campus at the time of the shooting, which took the life of one student and wounded a teacher.

The reported absence of an armed officer is just the latest twist in the campus shooting.

At around 8:30 a.m. Monday, a 15-year-old student shot a teacher before turning the gun on himself in one of the school’s second-floor classrooms, according to the Express-News. The student died at the scene, while the teacher remains at a San Antonio hospital.

However, the motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

The student was failing several classes, News 4 SA reporter Jaie Avila tweeted Tuesday afternoon. However, Comal Sheriff Reynolds told the Express-News that the student and teacher didn’t have a personal relationship.

Hill Country College Preparatory High School canceled classes on Tuesday in response to the shooting.

School Cop SMACKS Student with Taser, Walks Himself Into a Lawsuit (youtube) OR School Cop SMACKS Student with Taser, Walks Himself Into a Lawsuit (invideous)

The U.S. has destroyed a second Iranian elementary school and a sports hall in the city of Lamerd during the early days of the war, experts and a visual analysis suggest.

The strike happened on Feb. 28 - the same day a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile hit a girls' school in the city of Minab and killed 175 people. However, experts believe the elementary school and the adjacent recreational sports hall were destroyed with an untested ballistic missile.

At the time of the bloody strike, the Lamerd sports hall was occupied by a girls' volleyball team, state media reported. A total of 21 people, including two schoolgirls aged 10 and 11 and their coach, were killed.

Munitions experts, after reviewing videos of the attacks, concluded that the U.S. likely employed newly developed short-range ballistic missiles called the Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, based on explosion and damage patterns.

These weapons reportedly detonate just above their targets and then rain down a blast of tungsten pellets, according to The New York Times, which gathered analysis from weapon experts.

According to one video, captured in a residential area about 900 feet from the school and sports hall, the weapon shows the distinctive silhouette of the PrSM. The missile then erupts into a massive fireball midair.

Another video, recorded from a security camera across from the sports hall, shows the weapon combusting above the hall and the elementary school next to it.

Photos of the destruction were reportedly riddled with holes, apparently from the searing tungsten pellets, according to The Times.

Video analysis also revealed that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps compound is located right next to the sports hall. It is unclear whether it was damaged in the attack. It is also unclear whether officials intended to target the IRGC structure rather than the recreational building and school.

In the case of the deadly attack in Minab, a Pentagon investigation found that officials relied on outdated intelligence to conduct the strike. The girls' school had previously been used as a government building before ultimately being converted.

Department of Defense officials admitted to The Times that the U.S. used untested munitions in several attacks across Lamerd during the outset of the Iran war on Feb. 28. However, the government did not claim or deny responsibility for the destruction of the school and sports hall.

The PrSM had just cleared prototype testing in 2025 and had not been utilized in combat until the alleged strike.