A Colorado paralegal who leaked unsealed court documents
The Gazette reports that Sherie Farstveet, 54, pleaded guilty this month in the Adams County Court to attempted official misconduct. In April, Farstveet accessed court filings and shared them with the media.
The affidavit, which was made public days later, detailed graphic information about the disappearance and death of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch.
“The reasons [the affidavit was sealed] included to protect the integrity of the investigation as it contained information known only to law enforcement and the persons involved in that investigation,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Allen said in May.
Allen added that Farstveet had “a log-in to get into the court system and was able to get access before the seal was lifted.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Allen said he doesn’t think the affidavit leak will hurt the case against Letecia Stauch, the woman accused of killing her stepson, Gannon.
However, Allen added, the leak didn’t give Gannon’s parents the chance to read over and digest the details with authorities before viewing it online.
Adams County Judge Michael Andrew Cox ultimately ordered Farstveet to pay court costs for her indiscretion. She was initially facing first-degree official misconduct, but prosecutors charged her with a lesser crime of attempted official misconduct for a guilty plea.
Farstveet was working as a paralegal at the Brighton City Attorney’s Office when the leak occurred. It’s unclear if she is still employed there.
Warning: The following unsealed documents contain disturbing contents
Letecia Stauch Arrest Affid… by Leigh Egan
Letecia Stauch was arrested in March for Gannon’s murder after he disappeared from the Lorson Ranch neighborhood in Colorado Springs on January 27. Prosecutors allege that Stauch killed Gannon inside their home while other family members were at work and school.
Stauch then disposed of Gannon’s body in or around Douglas County, Colorado, before ultimately dumping him under a bridge in Pace, Florida, prosecutors said. She’s facing numerous charges, including, in part, child abuse and murder.
Stauch remains behind bars at the El Paso County Jail in Colorado Springs. A second competency hearing for Stauch is scheduled for January.
Check back for updates.
Additional Information
PART ONE: Tecia Stauch Interview
PART TWO: Tecia Stauch Interview
PART THREE: Tecia Stauch Interview
Neighbor Roderrick Drayton Interview
CLICK HERE to see all of our coverage on Gannon Stauch
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[[Feature Photo: Letecia Stauch/KRDO-TV/The Gazette via AP, Pool, Gannon Stauch/Facebook]
