Center’s interim chief remains in place while officials stay silent about how the theft cases ended.
ALAMOSA, Colo. — Months after a pair of twin brothers who ran a K-9 program for the Center Police Department resigned while facing felony theft charges, their cases no longer appear on public court dockets, and the town still lists an interim chief with no announced timeline for a permanent hire.
The brothers—Chief Aaron Fresquez and Officer Adam Fresquez—were accused last year of steering proceeds from police dog training for outside agencies away from town coffers while using on-duty time and municipal resources. They pleaded not guilty in April, then left the department in June. A joint trial had been slated for early November. In response to a records request this week, the Saguache County clerk said no public record exists for either case, phrasing Colorado courts use when a judge seals files after a case is closed. Prosecutors who handled the matter and state investigators have not provided an explanation.
According to earlier filings, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation opened the probe in 2023 at the request of the 12th Judicial District Attorney. On Oct. 4, 2024, agents issued theft summonses alleging a loss between $5,000 and $20,000 to the Town of Center. The chief also received a misdemeanor citation for official misconduct. Neither man was arrested, and both were placed on administrative leave the same day. The town elevated Lt. Eidy Guaderama to interim chief. In April, both brothers entered not-guilty pleas. Court schedules set a November trial. By late November, requests for the case files returned a standard “no such public record exists” response, indicating the cases had been sealed following a resolution that officials have declined to describe. A CBI spokesperson said the bureau could not offer details.
Financial questions linger for the town, a San Luis Valley community where small budgets and mutual aid shape daily policing. The K-9 program had been a public point of pride, with demonstrations at parks and regional trainings. Records from 2021 show Officer Adam Fresquez deploying a drug-detection dog during traffic stops. After the resignations, Center did not announce changes to the K-9 unit’s staffing or policy. It is unknown whether the town conducted an internal audit of training income, whether any restitution was arranged, or whether the brothers remain certified to handle police dogs elsewhere. The department’s website still lists Guaderama as interim chief, and no permanent selection has been posted at recent town meetings.
Colorado law restricts access to sealed criminal records and directs agencies to respond that no public record exists when asked. The law preserves access for courts, prosecutors and law enforcement. Without a visible docket, it is unclear whether the cases ended through dismissal, diversion, or a plea to a lesser offense. Special prosecutors from the 6th Judicial District had taken over the prosecutions to avoid conflicts. Neither that office nor the 12th Judicial District office answered questions about any conditions in a resolution, including whether training revenues, equipment use, or off-duty employment were addressed in a written agreement.
In Center, harvest trucks still roll past the police station on Worth Street, and officers from neighboring agencies continue to back up calls across the valley. Several residents said they were surprised to learn the files had vanished from public view. “You hear there was supposed to be a trial, then suddenly there’s nothing,” said a local shop manager who declined to be named to avoid upsetting customers on both sides. A former town official said the department had leaned on the K-9 program to build regional partnerships. Others worried that the leadership gap could make recruiting harder even as seasonal traffic picks up along U.S. 285.
As of Thursday, the Center Town Board had not scheduled a vote on a permanent chief, and there were no public court hearings listed for either brother. The next update is likely to come from town officials if they move to fill the chief’s job or from prosecutors if they decide to discuss how the cases concluded.
Author note: Last updated December 4, 2025.