By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
Fears expressed by Tina Peters to Mesa County Sheriff’s Office deputies during her stay in the county’s jail led to the decision this week to relocate the former Mesa County clerk, the Rocky Mountain Voice has learned.
In an overabundance of caution and to help ensure her feeling of safety, Peters has been transferred to the Larimer County jail.
Sgt. Justin Montover, of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Professional Standards and Internal Affairs Unit, clarified key details regarding Peters’ incarceration and the measures taken to address her concerns.
“On several occasions, Tina was asked if she felt safe and to provide specifics about any issues,” he said. “She expressed fears, but did not provide clear details about direct threats.”
The goal is to keep all inmates as comfortable as possible, he said, and deputies try to meet every reasonable request made within their means to do so.
He noted the decision to transfer Peters to Larimer County was made at a higher administrative level, and he was not involved in selecting the destination. The sheriff’s office maintains a policy of notifying inmates of transfers only 20-30 minutes beforehand to ensure safety and security during the process.
Peters had served 76 days of a 120-day sentence in the Mesa County jail. The sentence also includes 8.5 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and three years of parole following her incarceration.
The sentence stems from an Oct. 3 verdict and sentencing on three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with an order by the secretary of state.
The relocation of Peters to Larimer County adheres to established procedures, Montover said, offering transparency about the processes involved.
For example, in another case, a woman with a bad hip talked with deputies and was given a choice between a thicker mattress or keeping her original one. Deputies often work with medical staff to determine solutions for issues like this, making sure concerns are handled fairly and within legal guidelines, he says.
One concern raised involves Peters’ assignment to a top bunk without a ladder. Sgt. Montover confirmed the facility does not have ladders for top bunks, but emphasized that accommodations are available.
“If inmates communicate issues like difficulty accessing a top bunk, we immediately make adjustments, such as moving them to a bottom bunk,” he said. “This is outlined in the inmate handbook, and Peters successfully requested a thicker mattress earlier during her incarceration.”
Upon review, Sgt. Montover found no requests were made regarding her bunk assignment.
When it comes to conflicts with others, deputies will work to change inmate bunk or cell assignments, he says.
There was an allegation that another inmate shoulder-checked Peters. Sgt. Montover reviewed hours of video recordings and ultimately asked for permission to ask Peters questions to narrow the timeframe of the incident.
During time spent with Peters, Sgt. Montover relayed that he made every effort to explain that alternate arrangements could be made if she had concerns for her safety. Regarding Peters’ mental health, he shared, “To my knowledge, I’ve never been aware of any mental health concern.”
Multiple conversations about moving Peters were discussed with the goal of helping her feel more safe. When the option of being moved into isolation away from others was preferred, Peters expressed fear that such an arrangement would have an ulterior motive. Many deputies explained this option would only be made for her safety.
With regard to allegations that Peters was punished for behaviors that resulted in a loss of privileges, Sgt. Montiver reported that she had earned the role as a podworker during meal times. This role is considered a privilege for inmates who show their ability to work well with others and demonstrate trustworthiness, he said.
Peters’ role as a podworker was removed over an incident involving burnt potatoes being placed in a shower. There are allegations that another inmate interfered with Peters’ role, tampered with the cook time and the result was burnt food.
Allegations suggested she lost privileges because of burning potatoes. Sgt. Montover clarified the situation: “It wasn’t the act of burning potatoes that caused her to lose pod worker status. The issue arose when she placed the smoking potatoes in the shower without informing pod officers, creating a potential safety hazard. This action could have triggered a fire alarm, jeopardizing facility safety.”
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office highlighted its commitment to maintaining inmate safety and following procedural guidelines.
“We have [more than] 300 policies in place to address various situations, ensuring fair and consistent treatment,” Sgt. Montover explained. These include protocols for moving inmates within pods to avoid conflicts and ensuring ADA compliance.
Sgt. Montover also reported that part of his job includes determining whether any deputy or personnel failed to follow protocols with regard to the treatment of inmates. If any protocols were breached, an internal investigation will be conducted.
According to Sgt. Montover, the decision to transfer Peters to Larimer County was made by higher administrative authorities, and the destination was not within his purview.
After Peter’s transfer to Larimer County was made, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement reading, “Although we are confident that Ms. Peters was not in imminent danger, she has been transferred to the Larimer County jail in Fort Collins, Colorado, to ensure she can feel secure while in custody.”