COLORADO SPRINGS — A woman in Adams County accused of leaking the arrest affidavit of Letecia Stauch has been cited by law enforcement Tuesday morning, according to the 4th Judicial District.
The arrest affidavit for Stauch detailing the events that led investigators to believe she murdered her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch, was released by the 4th Judicial District on April 3 following authorization by the court and the leak of the document.
The individual has been identified as Sherie Farstveet, a Brighton City Attorney's Office employee. Her next court appearance will be July 6 in Adams County.
Prosecutors in the Stauch case said the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and an investigator with the Adams County District Attorney's Office served a misdemeanor citation for one count of Official Misconduct. This is a class 2 misdemeanor that can be punishable by "3 months to 364 days in jail, a fine of $250 to $1000, or both."
Farstveet is accused of accessing the affidavit in "a high profile, pending 1st degree murder case – knowing that the affidavit had not been made public – and released it to an online website that tracks crimes."
On Jan. 27, Gannon was reported missing by his stepmother who said he had gone to a friends house and did not return home. Weeks later, a body found in Florida was identified as the boy.
The arrest of Stauch was a result of thousands of hours spent in the investigation and searching for Gannon. Stauch is facing multiple charges:
- Count 1 - Murder in the first degree (first degree felony)
- Count 2 - Murder in the first degree (first degree felony)
- Count 3 - Child abuse resulting in death (second degree felony)
- Count 4 - Tampering with a deceased human body (third degree felony)
- Count 5 - Tampering with physical evidence (sixth degree felony)
- Count 6 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - use of firearm
- Count 7 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - use of a blunt instrument
- Count 8 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - use of a knife or other sharp instrument
- Count 9 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - unlawfully causing the death of Gannon Stauch
- Count 10 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - use of a firearm related to murder in the first degree - child under 12 years of age
- Count 11 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - use of a blunt instrument related to murder in the first degree - child under 12 years of age
- Count 12 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - use of a knife or other sharp instrument related to murder in the first degree - child under 12 years of age
- Count 13 - Crime of violence (special enhancer) - unlawfully causing the death of Gannon Stauch related to murder in the first degree - child under 12 years of age
Prosecutors announced they have not ruled out the possibility of pursuing the death penalty in this case. A bill recently passed in the Colorado General Assembly calls for the repeals of the state’s death penalty for any crimes charged by prosecutors on or after July 1, 2020.
Stauch is expected back in court in June for a status conference. A final date has not yet been determined. Prosecutors said they have to go over 100 search warrants in this case and some of those warrants are from South Carolina, while the majority are local.
This is a developing story. Stick with News5 for updates.
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