Former Durango Finance Director Accused of Theft/Embezzlement

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 10:21 AM

Court documents show former Durango Finance Director Julie Brown is accused of stealing almost $500,000 from the city of Durango.

From the City of Durango

July 8, 2020

The La Plata County District Court has signed the arrest warrant for Julie Brown, the former Finance Director of the City of Durango. Ms. Brown is being charged with: Theft of $100,000.00 or more but less than $1,000,000.00, as defined by C.R.S. 18-4- 401(1)(a),(2)(i),class 3 felony; Identity Theft, as defined by C.R.S. I 8-5-902(1)(c), a class 4 felony; Embezzlement of Public Property, as defined by C.R.S. 18-8-407(1), a class 5 felony; and Forgery, as defined by C.R.S. 18-5-102(1)(c),(e), a class 5 felony. Bail has been set at $25,000. The District Attorney’s office will seek to modify the bond to a personal recognizance bond so that Ms. Brown can be released from jail, while her case is pending. The jail is currently experiencing excess capacity and is having difficulty maintaining social distancing sufficient to maintain a safe jail environment. The bond statute presumes that defendants should be released on the least restrictive conditions taking into account the safety of the community and whether the person is a flight risk. Given the underlying facts of this case, the District Attorney does not consider Ms. Brown to be a safety risk to the community; and her willingness to cooperate with CBI these last nine months suggests that she is not a flight risk.

More from Local News

Judge: SunRay Can't Move Horse Racing & Casino to Clovis

In February, San Juan County Commissioners voted to seek judicial review of the New Mexico Racing Commission’s decision to authorize Western Gaming to move its racing license to Clovis, NM. The Racing Commission’s decision, at the request of Western Gaming, would have ended San Juan County’s long heritage of horse racing at a county-owned facility.
NM Rep. Joseph Hernandez Ends Re-Election Campaign

In his statement, Hernandez says, "At this time, I believe the best decision for me and those I love is to focus on my health and my family, while continuing to serve the community that entrusted me with this office through the remainder of my term."
Suspect Arrested after Sexual Assault

During the investigation, officers learned that a male and female who knew each other had been in the area of the disc golf course. Neither individual was a student or staff member of San Juan College. The female victim reported that an altercation occurred between her and the male, Tyson Saggboy. She reported that Saggboy battered her, removed her clothing, and strangled her before fleeing the scene.
Ground Broken for new STEAM Education Building at Navajo Prep

The new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Facility will provide expanded space for Navajo Prep’s International Baccalaureate program and career-focused pathways.
Farmington Man Sentenced on Child Porn Conviction

Earlier this week, Jacob Marriott was sentenced after pleading guilty to 4 counts of Manufacturing of Child Pornography (2nd Degree Felony), 1 count of Possession of Child Pornography (4th Degree Felony), and 2 counts of Voyeurism of a Child Under 18 (3rd Degree Felony).
2026 NM Primary Local (Unofficial) Results

We'll be updating this page with results throughout the evening on Tuesday, June 2, 2026: These are the unofficial results of the contested NM Primary races in San Juan County on June 2, 2026:

On KSJE Now:

The Scott Michlin Morning Program
8:05am - 9:00am

Newsmakers, local information and current events.
BBC News
9:00am - 9:05am
Roving With The Arts
9:05am - 10:00am