Two former Lake County Sheriff’s deputies are accused of stealing guns from the agency’s evidence room in an attempt to sell them for personal profit.
William Berry and Jeffrey Hartman face charges that include unlawful purchase of firearms, theft, embezzlement of public property, complicity with embezzlement of public property and first-degree official misconduct, according to a news release from the Eagle County district attorney’s office.
The investigation started this month after Lake County Undersheriff Fernando Mendoza received an e-mail from a federal agent who wasn’t involved in the case asking why he had not received a gun he purchased from Berry, who told the agent the firearm was confiscated after a domestic violence case, according to the release.
That pistol — a government model .38 caliber super colt semi-automatic — and three others — two Norinco SKS semi-automatic rifles and a Marlin .22 rifle — were confiscated from a defendant deported after a January domestic violence case.
The girlfriend of the suspect was allegedly contacted by Berry and asked to sell the guns to him, which she agreed to, she said, but never signed any official paperwork releasing them from evidence.
Hartman worked in the evidence room and allegedly helped Berry acquire the guns, even getting one as a “thank you” gift for his assistance, according to the release.
All four guns were recovered by the sheriff’s office.
Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ryanparkerdp
