Tom Burris
Tom Burris

The plea hearing for Superintendent Harry (Tom) Burris has been moved to January after multiple continuances in Montezuma County Court. Burris is accused of a misdemeanor charge of failing to report an allegation of child abuse, specifically an alleged student-teacher relationship.

District Attorney Christian Hatfield and Burris attorney David Illingworth acknowledged that the case has been continued multiple times, and Judge Ian MacLaren echoed that the case has been “languishing for some time.”

Despite the delays, the decision was made to postpone Burris’ plea hearing until the new year after Jeremy Reed, the newly elected DA, is sworn into office.

Now, his pretrial conference is set for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m.

Burris was cited on Aug. 12 on suspicion of violating Colorado Statute 19-3-304, “Persons required to report child abuse or neglect,” after it was alleged that a high school teacher may have had sexual relations with a student, according to the Cortez Police Department.

Timeline

June 1, 2023: The approximate date that the Cortez Police Department estimates Superintendent Harry “Tom” Burris of the Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 school district allegedly violated Colorado Statute 19-3-304 – “Persons required to report child abuse or neglect.” (Source: Cortez Police Department)May 7, 2024: Burris reportedly tells the Montezuma-Cortez Board of Education about the allegation of sexual abuse by a high school teacher, who is subsequently fired. (Source: Montezuma-Cortez Board of Education)July 9, 2024: Human Resource Director Cyndi Eldredge is fired. July 18, 2024: Eldredge gives Cortez Police Detective Shane Fletcher a video recording of a phone conversation between her and Burris that occurred June 13. In the police report, Eldredge said Burris had called her at 10 p.m. that night. (Source: Cortez Police Department)July 22, 2024: Parents of the student meet with officers at the Cortez Police Department. The boy’s mother acknowledged that she had made a report to Burris about her son’s relationship with the teacher. (Source: Cortez Police Department)July 24, 2024: Police meet with the student at Four Corners Advocacy Center, and Lacey Osterloh conducts a forensic interview with him. (Source: Cortez Police Department)Aug. 7, 2024: Burris leaves a meeting with Detective Fletcher at the police station. (Source: Cortez Police Department)Aug. 12, 2024: A police citation accuses Burris of violating Colorado Revised Statute 19-3-304. (Source: Cortez Police Department)Sept. 25, 2024: Arraingment (Montezuma County Court)Oct. 22, 2024: Pre-trial conference (Montezuma County Court)Dec. 3, 2024: Plea hearing turned continuance (Montezuma County Court)Jan. 21, 2025: Upcoming plea hearing at 10 a.m. (Montezuma County Court)

As superintendent, Burris is considered a mandatory reporter of suspected child abuse. The police reports estimated that Burris may have been aware of the allegations since June 2023, but never reported it.

It’s also a matter of district policy – JLF, Reporting Child Abuse/Child Protection.

Though it was found that no sexual abuse occurred between the student and teacher, the teacher was fired from her position earlier this year.

The police reports provided further details on the incident, sharing that the student’s mother had told Burris she had concerns regarding the alleged relationship, but asked him not to report it.

The allegations came to light on July 15 when social worker and former RE-1 board of education candidate Jonathan (JJ) Lewis reported it to the Cortez Police Department.

According to the report provided by Lewis to police, a male Montezuma-Cortez High School student was involved with a female teacher. He added that the allegations had been shared with the Montezuma-Cortez Board of Education during an executive session in May. The teacher was fired soon after.

Cynthia Eldredge, former HR director for the district, provided a recording of a call to the police that included Burris telling her about the alleged relationship. Eldredge said Burris prohibited her from sharing the report, and that he may have been intoxicated during the call, according to police.

Before Burris’ first hearing this fall, Illingworth told The Journal that they were looking forward to a “swift vindication.”

“In light of the total lack of evidence, it is questionable that police even gave Mr. Burris a summons, and Mr. Burris looks forward to his swift vindication through the judicial process where he is presumed innocent by law,” Illingworth said.