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Lake County deputy facing charges for stun gun incident

LEADVILLE, Colo. (AP) – A Colorado sheriff’s deputy who resigned after allegations he used a stun gun on high school students during a job fair now faces child abuse charges.

Lake County prosecutors on Wednesday filed 11 misdemeanor charges of child abuse and nine counts of reckless endangerment against Deputy John Ortega. Lake County Sheriff Ed Holte says Ortega “foolishly agreed” to use the stun gun on the students earlier this month after they insisted they wanted to know what it felt like to be shocked.

Ortega resigned this week after returning from his job from an unpaid suspension. He faces up to more than 27 years in jail if convicted of all charges.


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