MONTICELLO — Criminal charges against the former Grand County chief public defender have been dismissed after an unusual request from the prosecutor in the middle of the trial.

Kristine Rogers, 72, was on trial last week in 7th District Court on misdemeanor charges of assault, trespassing and damaging or interrupting a communication device. Prosecutors said she tried to illegally evict her tenants at a house in San Juan County last year.

Rogers pleaded not guilty and went to trial — twice. The first one ended in a mistrial, while the second one resulted in all charges being dismissed before a verdict was ever reached.

That request for dismissal came not from the defense attorney, but from the prosecutor.

“It’s very rare that a prosecutor would go to all the work to get prepared for tri

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