Unger rejects mediation agreement
Our Community News, October 1, 2005
By Fred Malmstrom
In an unexpected development at the Colorado Springs District Court House, District Attorney Robyn Cafasso announced that defendant Patricia Unger refused her previously mediated plea agreement to charges of embezzlement of funds from the Forest View Acres Water District. Unger’s attorney Timothy Bussey cited his client had "questions about dispensation of funds."
Judge David L. Shakes declared the criminal and civil mediation effort at an end and set Unger’s preliminary hearing to answer to criminal felony charges for 9 a.m. on Friday, October 14. That hearing was subsequently rescheduled to October 13, 10 a.m.
Under the mediation agreement, Unger’s civil charges would have been combined with her criminal case.
Unger now faces the possibility of 4 to 10 years’ imprisonment plus full restitution of funds. Embezzlement of such a large amount of money—in this case, allegedly at least $315,000—is considered a major Class 3 felony.
Although Unger’s husband, Dennis, has not been charged with criminal activity, her present withdrawal from the mediation agreement will have no effect on the pending civil suit filed against both of them.
If Unger’s criminal case goes to trial, it will not be expected to take place until early next year.
