Lakish sentenced to one-year probation

SAGUACHE — District Judge Amanda Hopkins ended a two-year nightmare for Crestone residents Brian Kramer and Julie O’Halloran on Oct. 22, finalizing their case by sentencing William Alder Lakish, also of Crestone, to 12 months’ probation.

A 12-member jury found him not guilty of forgery in June, but informed District Judge Amanda Hopkins they were hopelessly deadlocked on the criminal impersonation charge. Hopkins then declared a mistrial on the second charge and the Alamosa District Attorney’s Office ordered Lakish retried on criminal impersonation charges.

But the trial was canceled when Lakish pleaded guilty to “an added count” of offering a false instrument for recording on Sept. 17.

Felony charges were initially filed against Lakish by District Attorney Crista Newmyer-Olsen after Saguache County Undersheriff Jim McCloskey determined in October 2017 that Lakish had filed as a “registered agent” for the White Eagle LLC May 11, 2017.

Kramer, O’Halloran and a Canadian resident were the actual agents for the property.

Judge Hopkins also ordered Lakish to receive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from a certified psychologist and comply with all recommendations made by his therapist. In addition, Lakish also was instructed by Hopkins to write a letter of apology to Kramer and O’Halloran, to be reviewed and approved by his probation officer, and perform 10 hours of community service.

Restitution was also ordered, but the amount will be set at a later date once the court determines exactly what Lakish owes Kramer and O’Halloran.

Kramer and O’Halloran hinted Tuesday there have been some positive developments with resolving issues regarding the White Eagle LLC over the past few months and expressed relief that their court experience was finally over.

BACKGROUND

Kramer, O’Halloran and Brian Hendry of Ontario, Canada, were still listed as members of White Eagle LLC when Lakish registered himself as an agent with the Secretary of State’s Office May 11, 2017.

The lodge closed in 2012 after pipes burst in December 2011, flooding the entire structure and eventually causing the growth of black mold throughout the building.

Curtis Belcher, then acting as a state-appointed assistant to the assessor’s office, declared the building uninhabitable in 2012 owing to foundation and other problems.

The building’s uninhabitable status was then confirmed by other agencies.

Saguache County Commissioners did not want White Eagle on the county tax rolls because of the liability involved. So despite the lodge’s condition, Lakish proposed a plan to commissioners to clean up the building so he could make movies at the location and open the lodge up for other projects.

After listening to Lakish’s proposals, County Attorney Ben Gibbons instructed Saguache County Treasurer Connie Trujillo to work out a deal with Lakish to make payments on reduced taxes owed on White Eagle. Lakish then registered as an agent for the property to sign the deal with Trujillo.

He later reneged on making payments on the lodge, however, voiding the agreement. Lakish had proposed similar projects in other locations. He also had repeatedly asked O’Halloran and Kramer to include him as a member of the LLC, according to court testimony.

Any citizen in Saguache County can request to pay back taxes during a tax lien sale and assume responsibility for taxes on delinquent properties without representing themselves as having any actual interest in the property.