Montrose attorney appointed acting D.A.

Serra returns to court February 11

Montrose defense attorney and former prosecutor Dan Hotsenpiller will take the reins as the acting seventh judicial district attorney, after district attorney Myrl Serra was found to be unable to handle his responsibilities in light of the charges against him.

Serra, who was appointed district attorney in 2006, was arrested by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation September 30 on suspicion of official misconduct, indecent exposure and unlawful sexual contact.
Since then the charges against him have been amended to include one felony count of both unlawful sexual contact and criminal extortion. He is also facing one count of misdemeanor official misconduct, three misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure.
After Serra’s arrest, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien put the District Attorney’s office in the hands of the state Attorney General’s Office. Then, in a letter to district Judge Steven Patrick, the Attorney General’s office said it doesn’t have the authority to deal with personnel issues, budgeting and other operational decisions that need to be made in the DA’s office.
The 7th Judicial District covers Gunnison, Montrose, Delta, Hinsdale, San Miguel and Ouray counties.
On Thursday, December 16, the Montrose Daily Press reported that Judge Patrick issued an administrative order for the “appointment of an acting district attorney.”
The order called on Hotsenpiller to take over the post starting January 10. In a news release issued Thursday, Hotsenpiller said, “Having been called for public service, I am honored to be asked and privileged to serve the people of this district. Right now, the Office of the District Attorney requires leadership with integrity. I fully intend to support the hard work of the dedicated, talented attorneys and staff that are the current DA’s office.”
Serra, through his attorney, has denied the charges against him. He will return to court February 11.