The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Felony theft trial set for September
The former executive director for the Office of Resource Efficiency who is charged with felony theft for allegedly misappropriating $4,200 in bonuses/back pay from the non-profit organization appeared by phone in district court for her plea hearing on Friday, April 10.
Kristen Van Hoesen rejected the plea offer from district attorney Jessica Waggoner, and since the two parties could not come to an agreement outside the courtroom, a two-day jury trial was set for September 8.
Waggoner said since the case is pending she could not divulge the terms and conditions of the plea offer. She also said Van Hoesen’s attorney did not supply the reasons they were not accepting the offer.
If Van Hoesen were to be convicted, she would have to accept any sentencing set by the judge, which could entail probation, community corrections, or, at the most, a prison sentence.
Dan Hotsenpiller, district attorney for the 7th Judicial District, explained that normally, a Class 6 Felony, the lowest class felony in Colorado, carries a 12 to 18-month sentence, but the maximum penalty Van Hoesen could possibly receive for the felony charge is three years.
Still, Hotsenpillar said for that, the judge would have to find extraordinary, aggravating circumstances.
