Serra Violates Bond Conditions

MONTROSE - Montrose District Attorney Myrl Serra was arrested — again — on Monday for violating conditions of his bail bond and a restraining order from an earlier arrest for felony sexual misconduct and other charges.

Serra was first arrested on Sept. 30 following an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation into alleged improper sexual contact with some of his employees. He faces charges of felony extortion, felony sexual contact with no consent, two misdemeanor charges of official misconduct, and three misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure.

His recent arrest stemmed from an encounter on Dec. 5 with one of his alleged victims in a department store in Montrose. According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged victim spotted Serra coming into the store, so she “hunched down” behind a clothes rack in the men’s department, but Serra came over and stared at her for several seconds, she stated in the report. No words were exchanged.

CBI agents subsequently viewed videotapes from the store and decided there was probable cause for the arrest. Serra was arrested at his home on the afternoon of Dec. 22, said Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn. He faces pending charges of violation of bail bond conditions and violation of a protection order. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

Serra is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on the original charges on Feb. 11 at the Montrose County Justice Center in Grand Junction.

Last week, Montrose attorney Dan Hotsenpiller was appointed to serve as DA while Serra’s case goes through the courts.

Serra is still receiving his full salary but is barred from entering the offices of the 7th Judicial District, except to appear in court.