On July 23, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced it has charged a former La Plata County Jail Commander Edward Aber, 62, with 117 counts of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and one count of first-degree official misconduct, also a Class 1 misdemeanor.
According to a CBI press release, these charges stem from an investigation initiated on Jan. 2, when the CBI was contacted to assist the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
“The investigation into Aber, who was promoted to Jail Commander in 2018 and granted administrative access to evidence.com in 2019, focused on his alleged inappropriate viewing of sensitive video footage,” the press release explains. “Aber was placed on administrative leave in July 2024 following allegations of unlawful sexual contact with female inmates and the sexual harassment of numerous female employees. While no charges were filed regarding the alleged sexual contact with inmates, Aber resigned in July of 2024 during the sexual harassment investigation.”
It adds that investigators believe 117 different female inmates’ strip search videos were allegedly accessed and viewed by Aber, multiple times, between Feb. 14, 2019, and Jan. 14, 2024.
Archuleta County had inmates housed at the facility from April 2015 until January 2020, according to Archuleta County Undersheriff Robert Hill.
The CBI did not disclose any additional information about the inmates involved in the allegations.
“The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” the CBI press release notes.
randi@pagosasun.com
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