Rural US town sees half of its sheriff’s department indicted

1 Apr 2026 • 2:08 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez and former deputy Keith Schultz were indicted on charges including abuse of a corpse and official misconduct.
  • The charges relate to their alleged mishandling of human remains found in October 2024, including leaving behind bones and delivering a skull to the coroner in a grocery bag without proper forensic labeling.
  • Separately, Undersheriff Cruz Soto, Sergeant Caleb Sanchez, and Deputy Roland Riley were indicted for charges related to using Tasers on a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
  • These three deputies are accused of failing to report the use of force and not conducting an investigation into the incident.
  • Half of the Costilla County Sheriff's Department, which has seven law enforcement officials, have been indicted, leading to Sheriff Sanchez's resignation and the appointment of a temporary sheriff.

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