Disbarred District Attorney Linda Stanley sued by multiple counties for allegedly using tax dollars for her legal fees

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - A lawsuit obtained by KRDO13 Investigates filed by Fremont, Chaffee and Custer counties against former 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley looks to recoup tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money that she allegedly used to pay her own legal fees in an ethics trial.

The former District Attorney for the 11th Judicial District, who is responsible for prosecuting crimes within Fremont, Custer, Chaffee and Park counties, was disbarred by the State of Colorado following two separate instances of ethics violations and misconduct in her position as DA.

First came her botched prosecution of Barry Morphew, the husband of Suzanne Morphew who went missing in May of 2020. Stanley charged Barry with murdering his wife, before the case was later dismissed by a judge without prejudice, meaning it could be re-filed in the future.

Second, came Stanley's comments in an on-the-record interview with KRDO13 in August 2023, about an accused baby killer, William Jacobs from Cañon City. In the interview, Stanley claimed the defendant was only hanging out with the mother of the child he was accused of killing, just to 'get laid'.

It was those comments, among others in that interview about the case, that led to Jacobs' charges being dropped in June 2024, over what the state deemed was "outrageous government conduct".

The judge presiding over the case, explaining in her decision that: "DA Stanley knew or reasonably should have known that her on-the-record comments to reporter Rice about Mr. Jacobs and co-defendant Ms. Crawford would be disseminated by means of public communication and that they would have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing these criminal proceedings."

From there, Stanley was under fire by the State, bringing her law license into question through an ethics trial. Eventually, the State felt there was enough evidence, and motioned to disbar Stanley in September 2024.

That then leads to a the lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, December 5, by the County Commissioners from Fremont, Chaffee and Custer County, who claim Stanley committed fraud and civil theft against their counties.

In it, attorneys allege that Stanley spent $111,971.35 in public funds to pay for her legal fees racked up by her and members of her staff in that State ethics trial, so they could defend themselves against allegations that they violated the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, or ethical violations.

KRDO13 previously reported that Stanley had appeared to cut checks for over $50,000 in her office's name, in order to pay her attorney's fees.

The suit explains that a letter was provided to Stanley on June 27, 2024 warning her that she was not allowed to use those taxpayer dollars, as it was a violation of Colorado law. Fremont County says that they reminded Stanley of the consequences for those violations again on September 25, 2024. You can read that notice here.

The lawsuit continues to claim that by Stanley paying for her legal fees, which they allege were not "necessary expenses of maintaining an office," she willfully, knowingly, and fraudulently
converted funds appropriated by Fremont County to her own use and benefit, and/or use
them for something other than what's authorized by law.

It alleges that during budget request meetings with the Boards of Commissioners, Stanley failed to disclose her intentions to use, or the actual use of, public funds for matters unrelated to the official operations of the Office of the District Attorney.

It continues to allege that at no time during her term in office as the 11th D.A. did Stanley request or propose a budget amendment to reflect the use of those public funds either.

As for the claim for civil theft within the lawsuit, attorneys state that the misappropriation of public funds by Stanley constitutes theft as defined in §18-4- 401, C.R.S. They also allege Stanley knowingly obtained, retained, and exercised control of public funds without authorization and by threat or deception.

The lawsuit concludes by requesting a jury trial, and asking the court to award judgments for expenses stemming from the following:

• For actual damages suffered by the plaintiffs in an amount to be determined at trial
• For treble damages in an amount to be determined at trial pursuant to C.R.S. § 18-4-405
• For pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the statutory rate
• For attorney’s fees and costs as provided by law
• For such other and further relief as the court deems just and equitable

KRDO13 Investigates attempted to reach Linda Stanley by phone on Thursday, but did not hear back.

You can read the whole lawsuit below: