Cortez resident Daniel J. Beltran, 22, could serve one to three years with the Colorado Department of Corrections for failing to register as a sex offender.
Beltran pleaded guilty in December 2017 to sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl and was sentenced in June 2018 to 90 days in jail and three years of probation. A condition of his probation stipulated that Beltran must register as a sex offender, which he failed to do in November.
The Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office records department informed a patrol deputy on Dec. 7 that Beltran had told the records department he was moving into the city of Cortez, according to an MCSO incident report. He was supposed to register with the city by Nov. 26.
The deputy traveled to Beltran’s last known address, on County Road K.2. He spoke with a woman who used to rent him a room. She informed the deputy that Beltran moved out on Nov. 7 and told her he “planned to fall off the grid” and move out of state, according to the incident report.
A warrant was issued for his arrest, and MCSO arrested Beltran on Dec. 19.
He appeared in 22nd Judicial District court on Thursday morning, in custody, for a revocation of probation hearing. Beltran admitted to violating his probation.
Public defender John Moran said Beltran wants to remain in custody to avoid drug use. He said Beltran has realized that three years of probation was a bad path for him. Moran requested screenings for community corrections and drug court, which Walker granted.
At a resentencing hearing on Feb. 7, Walker will review either acceptance or rejection letters from community corrections and drug court. If he is not accepted to either, he could serve time in state prison. Beltran is currently held on no bond.
