ALAMOSA — Mari Felix,Alamosa County's Clerk and Recorder  accused in late 2023 of being an accessory in crimes committed against a child, appeared in court on Tuesday. In a resolution with the prosecution, she pleaded guilty to being an accessory to one charge of child abuse, “knowingly and recklessly causing bodily injury”. The charge is a class 1 misdemeanor as determined by C.R.S. 18-6-401- 7(1a )reads “When a person acts knowingly or recklessly and the child abuse results in any injury other than serious bodily injury, it is a class 1 misdemeanor,”

As part of the plea deal, Felix also pleaded guilty to one count of violation of a protection order, also a class 1 misdemeanor.

Felix was also initially charged with twelve counts of Violation of a Restraining Order,  usually a class 2, 3 or 4 misdemeanor. However, in this case, Felix agreed to pleading guilty to one count of violation of a protection order as a class 1 misdemeanor, making it a more serious crime,  in exchange for the remaining eleven counts – that were deemed less serious - being dismissed.

Typically, sentencing in a case is delayed for at least 30 days while an investigator looks into the defendant’s background. The judge then takes that information along with other information, such as letters to the court on behalf ot he victim or the defendant under consideration, in passing down a sentence.

Given that Felix pleaded guilty in the case, proceedings went straight to sentencing.

In the state of Colorado, the maximum sentence for committing a class 1 misdemeanor is up to 364 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

In this case, for the crime of Child Abuse – Knowingly Recklessly Causing Bodily Injury, District Judge Krista Newmyer Olsen sentenced Mari Felix to 18 months of supervised probation without restitution or a fine being issued.

For count two Violation of a Restraining  Order, Felix was also sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation to be served concurrent with the first charge of child abuse.

Felix is further scheduled for a court appearance on August 4 at 9:00 a.m. for a “Review with Appearance of Parties” where the court will be informed on her behavior thus far, including if she is seeking treatment (it such is ordered) and/or following all other terms of her probation.

Since 2022 when she was elected to serve, Mari Felix has been the County Clerk and Recorder for the county of Alamosa. She continued in that position even after she was taken into custody on charges related to the case in December of 2023.

Over the months that followed, public attention was intermittent as the case slogged its way through multiple court proceedings as attorneys for the prosecution changed several times and the defense filed motions.

Now, two and a half years later, the Mari Felix case has finally been resolved.

When asked for a statement, Deputy DA Amy Stuart who prosecuted the case told the Valley Courier, “Mari Felix pled to one count of M1 Child Abuse in 23CR324 and one count of M1 Violation of a Restraining Order in 25M128 today.

“She was sentenced to 18 months supervised probation.

“These cases have been pending for quite some time. A lot of consideration went into the resolution of these cases. Both the impact on the community as well as the impact on the victim of the cases was the heart of the negotiations with Ms. Felix.

“The resolution that was reached is in the best interest of the community as well as the victim of these crimes. Ms. Felix is being held accountable for her part in the abuse the victim suffered.”

Megan Bagwell, spokesperson for the District Attorney’s office, went one step further in telling the Valley Courier, “Up to now, much of the public attention has been focused on Mari Felix, partly because she was the one in the public eye. That’s understandable.

"But let’s not forget that the real focus is on finding Martin Felix-Lopez who is accused of perpetrating the most egregious crimes in the first place.

“APD has and will continue to be in diligent pursuit and ultimately taking Felix-Jones into custody.”

After learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest in the case and making bail that was set deliberately high, Felix-Lopez completely disappeared from the community, leaving no clues as to his whereabouts.

“That’s not deterring APD,” Bagwell said. “They continue to be committed to finding Felix-Lopez and taking him into custody, and the DA’s office has every confidence that, at some point, they will do exactly that.”