DENVER, Colo. (KOAA) — An El Paso County Judge, Eric Bentley, has rejected the plea deal for Jon Hallford, the co-owner of Return to Nature.
Hallford was expected to be sentenced on Friday, but with the rejection of the plea deal, he could be going to trial.
Now that the judge has rejected the plea, Hallford's defense team can either affirm his plea and have the court set a sentencing date or the team could withdraw the plea and set a start date for Hallford's trial.
According to Colorado's 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office, there will be a status conference on September 12 for Hallford to decide which route he will take following the judge's rejection of the plea.
Close to 30 family members who were victims of the funeral home gathered inside the courtroom Friday morning to hear Hallford's sentencing.
Many gave their statements about how their families have been impacted. Judge Eric Bentley took these statements into consideration when deciding whether or not to approve the deal.
Jon Hallford was arrested in 2023 after investigators found nearly 200 bodies improperly stored at the funeral home in Penrose.
He and his wife, Carie Hallford, pleaded guilty to 190 state counts of abuse of a corpse.
Carie Hallford changed her plea in federal court earlier this month, pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Jon Hallford has already been sentenced to 20 years on federal wire fraud charges, and was facing up to 20 years on the state charges.
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Colorado Springs Mayor on rising costs, budget shortfall facing city
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