Former Fremont Correctional Officer re-accepts probation as part of plea deal – Canon City Daily Record

A former corrections officer at Fremont Correctional Facility was placed on probation again Monday after violating the terms of his first sentence.

Kyle Gotham Tatro, 35, was sentenced to two years of probation under a plea agreement in November 2022 after bringing illegal drugs into the facility.

On June 25, 2021, Tatro was found to be in possession of four translucent pens containing pills and other illegal substances after passing through security screening at the facility prior to his shift.

When confronted by a criminal investigator, Tatro admitted to bringing drug-containing items into the facility for the second time, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The first time he was paid $250, the second $340. He told investigators he knew it was wrong and illegal but was experiencing financial difficulties due to Covid. He said that with the last payment, he spent $100 on a vacation and $240 on a remote control car.

Tatro pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree smuggling contraband, a Class 4 felony.

In July, it was revealed that Tatro had failed to comply with probation by missing drug tests and failing to complete treatment.

On Monday, Deputy District Attorney David Little argued that Tatro received a significant benefit by initially pleading guilty to the crime with the condition of probation without prison time.

“In my opinion, this is a very serious result,” he said. “He was a law enforcement officer and was bringing fentanyl into the prison and selling it to inmates.”

He argued that the Penitentiary Institution’s sentence would be appropriate for the first sentence, but accepted that a prison sentence would be appropriate since this was the first annulment.

District Court Judge Kaitlin Turner said that, looking at the original plea agreement, Tatro pleaded guilty to the highest level of guilt in the case and did not receive a reduced charge when he entered the plea. He stated that he had no previous convictions and that he struggled with substance abuse and maintained his sobriety.

It reintroduced two years of probation with conditions such as treatment and weekly support groups or pro-social activities. Turner said the court had no choice but to jail him if he failed to comply.

He set an in-person review date in December to ensure he continues treatment, remains eligible for probation and maintains sobriety.