The disbarred former District Attorney for Colorado’s San Luis (loo-EESS) Valley is facing a new legal battle…
(Ex-DA’s Legal Issues vxr :42)
The guy he replaced claims Alonzo Payne filed fake criminal charges, over Christmas bonuses in the DA’s office. Payne resigned last summer, after an investigation found he ignored and mistreated crime victims. For that reason, Payne had also been facing a recall election. His predecessor, Bob Willit, just recently filed a federal lawsuit against Payne. Willit ran against Payne in 2020 and lost. He claims Payne then ordered an investigation into Christmas bonuses from Willit’s final months in the office and charged Willit with felony embezzlement. A special prosecutor later dropped those charges. Willit filed his federal action, trying to get some money back, and to set up new training for the 12th Judicial District DA’s office staff. There’s now a new DA in place, who says the office is fully staffed, and thriving.