In what seems to be a case of an individual attempting to operate above the law, a Colorado undersheriff is now facing a plethora of charges for violating state wildlife laws.
Costilla County Undersheriff Andrew J. Espinoza, 39, is facing charges of illegally selling wildlife, attempting to tamper with physical evidence, illegal possession of wildlife, illegal use of electronic equipment in furtherance of a crime and hunting without proper and valid licenses.
The charges are in addition to an accusation of official misconduct that Espinoza is facing, stemming from incidents that took place through his hunting outfitter operation.
According to arrest records, the charges stem from an incident that occurred two years ago. In a routine traffic stop, police officers pulled over a car that contained a number of mule deer antlers and several bags of meat officers deemed was acquired illegally.
The passengers in the car reported that they had been on their way back from an organized hunt with Espinoza and his outfitter service, prompting investigators to send an undercover officer to investigate the undersheriff and his side business.
“CPW takes hunting violations and crimes against wildlife very seriously,” said Joe Lewandowski, a spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which investigated the case. “Wildlife officers vigorously and thoroughly pursue these cases, as is indicated by this investigation.”
The sting operation began when a detective from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources organized and arrived in Colorado for a hunt with the outfitter. The warrant went on to state that Espinoza allegedly admitted that the license he instructed the undercover agent to buy was effectively invalid, but Espinoza ensured them that “the game warden knew what vehicles Espnioza drove and that the game warden would leave them alone.”
At the end of the trip, it was alleged that Espinoza then allowed one of his clients to drive the sheriff’s patrol car, exceeding speeds of upwards of 120 mph.
The case remains on-going after Espinoza posted a $5,000 bail, as wildlife officers continue to gather pertinent information about the case.