By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice
When a Montrose County woman was released on a $0 personal recognizance bond after skipping court in late 2023, it wasn’t her first time facing charges. It wouldn’t be her last either. Within nine months, she was arrested again – this time for second degree assault, harassment and criminal attempt. Her story is not an outlier. It is a warning.
“There’s a revolving door with criminals or serious crime,” said Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard in a recent interview with RMV. “Last month we picked up one person five times – they were released on PR bond. There’s no consequences.”
To illustrate how Colorado laws are contributing to rising crime and lawlessness, Sheriff Lillard prepared and shared a document showing just one small snapshot in time.
During just one week in November 2023, at least seven individuals facing serious or repeat charges were released from the Montrose County jail on personal recognizance – meaning they paid nothing and promised only to appear. Charges ranged from felony fugitives to domestic violence and resisting arrest.
Follow-up research into those cases reveals troubling patterns. In addition to the woman charged with violent assault, one man, released on charges of resisting arrest and criminal mischief, was later arrested for disorderly conduct and assaulting a peace officer less than five months later.
Another individual originally charged with harassment and domestic violence continued to appear in court through late 2024, indicating persistent legal entanglements.
A third person, whose November charges included weapons and explosives-related felonies, was still the subject of court motions in 2025, suggesting ongoing legal issues tied to the original arrest. The names of these individuals have been redacted at the request of Sheriff Lillard, who provided Rocky Mountain Voice with the release list.
“Judges and state lawmakers… We are not seeing high bonds placed on repeat offenders and that is a serious concern,” Lillard said. “It puts deputies at risk because people aren’t held accountable or held in jail.”
That risk is personal. Over the past year and a half, twelve correctional deputies in Montrose County have been injured in the jail. Some have suffered torn ligaments, chipped teeth, abrasions/ contusion, fingers bit, strained backs and bodily fluids thrown in their face. Lillard believes the problem starts in the courtroom.
“People become more hostile to law enforcement because they know that they’re just going to get away with it,” he said.
Lillard acknowledged that he’s been tempted to release the names of the judges authorizing repeat PR bonds – something Weld and Larimer counties tried but quickly regretted.
“The judges received death threats,” he said. “I won’t put lives in danger. But people do need to know what’s going on.”
The sheriff says the cycle of release and reoffend doesn’t just wear down his department. It feeds something larger.
“Drug cartels are in Montrose,” Lillard said. “They’re connected to the Sinaloa cartel out of Mexico.
In one local sting, deputies assigned to a joint drug task force helped bring down a fentanyl and meth trafficking ring operating in Montrose. Fourteen people were federally indicted by the State Attorney General’ Office.
Lillard shared that most were convicted and sentenced to hard time. Authorities traced over $1 million laundered from a local business to Mexico.
He said his own eyes were opened during a border tour four years ago at Sierra Vista Arizona that added a tremendous strain on the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office and all of the ranchers, citizens that live and work in the area.
Lillard believes a strong and secure southern border is the most humane and effective way to prevent crime, suffering and lawlessness from escalating. He argues that real reform begins with enforcing immigration laws and restoring consequences for criminal activity at the point of entry.
While Montrose law enforcement continues to cooperate with federal agencies, Colorado’s policies have limited local coordination with ICE. According to Lillard, ICE must place judicially valid detainers and be present at release or individuals walk free.
“They have to be proactive because of the way the state government runs things and won’t let counties cooperate with ICE,” Lillard said.
Lillard explained that sometimes ICE is conducting operations based on their own investigations in the area. And that his deputies would be there at a moment’s notice to support efforts for a safe outcome. “We have taken a strong stand to have ICE’s back.” This is to assist any type of law enforcement whether it be local, state or federal.
That same commitment to law and order fuels Lillard’s hope for change within the judicial system itself. In January, a new district attorney took office in Montrose County. Anna Cooling, he said, has brought grit to the courtroom.
“Her deputy DAs can argue for a higher bond. And that approach is thanks to Coolings dedication to the rule of law,” Lillard said. “Cooling has grit. Great leadership.”
Lillard emphasized that his deputies uphold the law regardless of politics or citizenship status. He shared that in the line of duty, they don’t ask if someone is from Mexico or Ireland or inquire about their immigration background.
“They don’t care,” he said. “Our deputies would take a bullet for residents. They are hired to arrest law breakers and bad people. And to enforce the laws of Colorado and to uphold the Constitution of the United States.”
For Lillard, enforcing the law without bias is fundamental to maintaining public safety. “We’re apolitical about the rule of law,” he said.
As one of Colorado’s most experienced sheriffs, Lillard doesn’t mince words when it comes to public safety.
“If you remove consequences, you embolden criminals,” he said. “And that’s exactly what we’re seeing.”