SAN LUIS — Costilla County Commissioner Augustine Roy Esquibel, 50, has been cited with harassment and first-degree official misconduct, according to the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office.

An employee of the Costilla County Department of Social Services contacted the sheriff’s office on June 13 regarding an allegation of sexual harassment, Undersheriff Ricky Rodriguez stated in a July 22 press release. Rodriguez added that the sheriff’s office completed a thorough investigation, which resulted in the harassment and misconduct citations.

In December 2016 the Democratic Party appointed Esquibel, 50, a lifelong Costilla County resident, to fill out the term for District 3 on the Costilla County Board of County Commissioners formerly held by Joe Gallegos, 60, who died on December 11 after a battle with cancer. Gallegos had just been re-elected to the Board of County Commissioners on November 8.

In March 2015, Esquibel was given a deferred sentence on a possession charge, with charges of attempting to influence a public servant and harassment dismissed. He was serving on the Centennial school board at that time.