A Cortez woman didn\u2019t get much love from the court last week regarding a Valentine\u2019s Day public records request of the Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
After an hour-long hearing on Thursday, June 19, Sherrie Simmons\u2019 request for a 2013 pretrial services report from the sheriff\u2019s office was denied. In his ruling, District Court Judge Todd Plewe said the requested records didn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality of this case, I cannot find the request was specific enough to hold the sheriff\u2019s office accountable,\u201d Plewe said.<\/p>\n
Colorado law requires each of the state\u2019s 12 pretrial service agencies to submit an annual report to the legislature every November. The Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office failed to file a report last year, which led to Simmons request.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report that was supposed to go to the state does not exist,\u201d said Michael Green, attorney for the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
During the evidentiary hearing, Montezuma County Undersheriff Lynda Carter testified she could provide Simmons with financial records, but that it would take up to four hours of staff time to redact personal information from the digital files. The sheriff\u2019s office requires a deposit to cover data collection expenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re willing to provide the information if (Simmons) is willing to pay,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n
Simmons paid $104 for an annual financial summary of the sheriff\u2019s pretrial services program. Simmons said she wanted a monthly financial breakdown.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, Simmons said she planned to modify and resubmit her public records request.<\/p>\n
Carter said the sheriff\u2019s office was not required to file the report, claiming the agency set its own reporting policies. Officials in Alamosa and El Paso counties also didn\u2019t file a pretrial services report last year.<\/p>\n