By Tobie Baker<\/p>\n
The Cortez Journal<\/p>\n
At a squad meeting last summer, Montezuma County Sheriff Dennis Spruell told his deputies that Robin Cronk was guilty of public corruption.<\/p>\n
Days after Cronk was indicted by a Montezuma County grand jury on 17 felony counts of embezzlement and a lone misdemeanor charge of first-degree official misconduct, Spruell admitted to deputies on Aug. 23 that he was partly to blame for the situation, according to an audio recording obtained by The Cortez Journal. Spruell added he had placed all his trust into his second in command.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake me look good,\u201d Spruell said he told Cronk. \u201cHe did exactly the opposite. He screwed me, big time.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the 25-minute meeting, Spruell said he initially believed that Cronk had made a mistake.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019ve come to find out that\u2019s all a bunch of bullshit,\u201d Spruell said. \u201cHe\u2019s a freaking thief. He did everything, but make me look good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spruell also described Cronk as \u201cstupid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he wanted to get caught,\u201d Spruell told deputies.<\/p>\n
Tapped as undersheriff in January 2011, Cronk launched his embezzlement scheme one month later. Over the next 26 months, he abused multiple sheriffs\u2019 office financial accounts, bilking taxpayers out of nearly $7,500 for personal gunsmithing services, vehicle maintenance, holsters, generators, gun components, ammunition and firearms.<\/p>\n
Cronk was forced to resign his post on June 24, 2013, following a public corruptions probe by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations.<\/p>\n
During the squad meeting, Spruell also admonished his troops that Cronk was not a \u201cpoor victim,\u201d but rather a \u201cdamn liar.\u201d Spruell outlined several allegations against Cronk, including his use of a company credit card to purchase a performance chip for his wife\u2019s car and a $5,000 sniper rifle.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to see a lot more tightening of the belt,\u201d Spruell continued during the meeting. \u201cI will know what\u2019s going on in this agency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spruell finally invited any deputy who thought Cronk was innocent to further discuss the matter with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s someone here in this group who thinks (Cronk) is innocent, please come sit down and have a big chat with me,\u201d Spruell said. \u201cAnd afterwards, if you still think he\u2019s innocent, then please go find another job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cronk pleaded guilty in March to one felony count of embezzlement and the misdemeanor charge of official misconduct. He was sentenced Friday to 30 days in jail.<\/p>\n