County sells land and then 'quietly' changes property line boundaries

[@jeremyashford2145]

It is not a property line dispute. It is fraud.

[@MrDarren5012]

Stop letting state officials resign or retire to avoid criminal prosecution’s

[@melkormorgoth9022]

And keep their pensions and golden parachutes....

[@jaycole5353]

I don't understand that, they would have to anyway when they are in prison

[@thomas1942]

To most, if not all officials, politicians, police officers and government officials the saying goes "The rules and the laws are for thee, not for me!"

[@SkypowerwithKarl]

like magic overnight the lines changed. The same positions that did this can move them back just as easily, if not I’d be taking them to court for optimistic losses of income in-front of a jury.

[@forcesightknight]

@Oddly Right yeah lots of people out there need a blanket party. Semper fi

[@SamC379]

This is why many people can't stand government employees

[@JerryDLTN]

The assessor probably got a bribe and some shares of stock in the mining company just before retiring

[@daves.software]

@@JerryDLTN That makes no sense. The mining company is owned by the couple that owns the land. Why would they bribe someone to screw them over?

[@andrewlewis8301]

@@TheAggromonster 0

[@jessewilson8676]

@@daves.software someone changed the land records so they don’t own it anymore the land they now one is a mile away..

[@albeit1]

Their greed for the results of other people’s work is often without limit. But according to them, those trying to keep what they’ve built are the greedy ones.

[@patmcbride9853]

I think those "retiring" employees should have their property seized.

[@olstar18]

Have to prove it was intentional first which can be difficult.

[@richhauxwell7848]

And prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law

[@lukeskywalker2116]

Pat McBride change their lot to the one next to the dump.

[@speed8701]

I think they should have their pensions revoked too.

[@chrisdenton7395]

@@olstar18 just hold their property until the investigation is over as evidence. s.o.p.

[@fightzoid]

Guaranteed he switched the plots so a buddy of his could buy the better land.

[@PhilLesh69]

More likely this is bureaucratic grudge or score settlng. They don't like this guy so they screwed up his land records to "show him." Passive aggressive people are everywhere.

[@jaycole5353]

As usual

[@nolongeramused8135]

I'm sure bribes were involved.

[@jaycole5353]

@@nolongeramused8135 Oh you mean contributions and donations . But of course 🤣 👍

[@nicholastheofrastou1953]

At a lower price.

[@rickblackhawk7264]

call me an idiot but I don't think this is a boundary line dispute sounds more like they switched the land parcels

[@cookiecuteasapuppy1008]

T yep 👍🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@jesseleblanc1199]

That's crazy but we still love cookies and milf

[@copelandart]

You're absolutely right. Boundary lines are not the same as sections, which were established decades ago Their actual location never moves, even though an actual ground survey may move their "boundaries" by a fraction of a foot. This was an obvious paper change from one section to the next.

[@noyopacific]

You are correct that this is not a boundary line dispute. The reporter also missed a key point. Title is transferred by a deed, not by the change in the owners name on the assessors tax role. The reporter said that section 24 is on the deed so that's the property that Ed Eckley owns. If the assessor's office made a mistake in changing the name of the tax roles it doesn't change who actually owns the property.

[@melissajarvis4829]

@@noyopacific I see it as a typo made in the county office. Should be a form to fill out, with proof of mistake, etc.

[@greentriumph1643]

Not a property line boundary dispute. There is no disagreement on the boundaries of sections 23 and 24. It is gross fraud.

[@rogerdavies6226]

How about theft?

[@expfighter5112]

people who resign or retire to avoid prosecution should be jailed until the dispute is settled, and they should have their pensions made NULL and void! Criminals ALWAYS WIN in todays world!

[@cashkitty3472]

There pensions should be stopped to pay for it

[@bricemacaluso8361]

if their SIGNED contract is for lot 24 and there is no signed (by the owner) contract for lot 23, then they own lot 24. What's signed is what is legal

[@Glum1964]

That is the way it works for private citizens. When a government official commits malfeasance, which is what has apparently happened here, all the county has to do is Kim they are a victim as well, and a judge may easily side with the county and leave it as is. It happens ALL the time. Stolen tax payments, speeding ticket fines, anyway a govt employee had of stealing, the govt has already figured out a way to protect themselves. You people have yet to learn: the typical fed is NOT stupid, just lazy and corrupt.

[@randomcheese3746]

Basically, the county manager said, "If you don't like it, sue us." Well, there you have it.

[@perryfefchuk637]

Then they should be sued charged and then jailed

[@markciamarra475]

Do it

[@robertcohen1888]

I would bring suit against the county and the old assessors personally!

[@cnault3244]

They are told all they can do is make it a civil court matter? Naw, just go start mining the property they purchased &have the papers for & then if the county gets upset let the county take them to court.

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

Unfortunately that won't end well. I've seen these kinds of disputes end up in court, and when the plaintiff showed historical documents on actual paper pulled from physical storage which disputed the computer records, the judge told a bailiff to walk across the street and access the computer terminal which housed the official records, and declared that it didn't matter what the paper records say; the _legal_ view is that the computer speaks _ex cathedra_ and defines reality. Change the official computer record, you change reality.

[@99percenter1]

That's what I'm thinking.

[@99percenter1]

@@NoJusticeNoPeace That can't be right. If the computer record defines reality, then what good is the paper?

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

+99percenter1 When they switched from paper to computer records, everything was manually transcribed. Lots of "errors" were quietly removed and then the computer records became official reality. For example, in the specific case I was referencing, the plaintiff had discovered that the land in question was unceded by the local indigenous tribe, and that one of the first Europeans had written himself a fraudulent deed, which was then sold from hand to hand. When it was transferred to computer, this history was just... expunged. The new reality was established by the computer record.

[@99percenter1]

@@NoJusticeNoPeace The fraudulent deed was expunged? In any case, what do you think would happen if the couple started mining the property and Park County took them court? Why wouldn't it end well for them?

[@fk4515]

Not that hard, hire a lawyer requesting that their original contract to purchase land is enforced and that they be awarded title to the land they purchased and damages. The thing about dealing with the Government is the only time they have to tell the truth is when they're in front of a judge.

[@normangraves4133]

unless that judge wants or has a friend that wants those minerals

[@gearhead682010]

Don’t even trust the judge in that crooked ass town because more than likely he’s in on the corruption bullshit

[@bealltho1]

Just because they're in front of a judge doesn't guarantee the accuracy of their "truth"

[@simonmcneilly55]

My sweet summer child, he thinks people don’t lie in court.... bless

[@jenniferzennifer6949]

Crooked County employees trying to pull one over on these people. They should be arrested for theft and fraud

[@bobbobby1846]

november 2018 this video was posted. it is now may 2020, where is the update?

[@life_with_bernie]

The person following up retired, and their deputy too.

[@BoltRM]

The reporter said he would follow up. Did he retire & the TV station go out of business? We need answers! 💪

[@steveconkey7362]

@@TheAggromonster His joke went over your small brain.

[@victorylibrary9597]

For the County employees I suggest indictment, conviction, then prison, followed by bankruptcy.

[@Beezlie727]

No bankruptcy! Make them honor ALL financial commitments even if they're broke! Don't make their creditors foot the bill! Let 'em be poor the rest of their lives. Sounds like they deserve it. Sucks to be their kids, though.

[@randyhaglund7557]

also dereliction of duty!

[@solarnaut]

the assessor and his assistant were last seen heading toward parcel 24 yelling "there's gold in them there hills ! "

[@davids7209]

I thought it was "them thar hills"?

[@michaelgrie3211]

@@davids7209 they're city slickers, they don't talk country.

[@davids7209]

@@michaelgrie3211 Y'all have a point! LOL

[@rayh592]

EVERYONE from the mayor to the lowest level employee in the county government should be charged with theft and individually sued for three times the value of the higher value property. They should then spend ten years in prison and any government pensions should be forfeited.

[@downhilltwofour0082]

In the old days they knew how to deal with "Claim Jumpers"!

[@Smokey4462]

Wonder who now holds title in the county records to the land they actually had purchased.

[@dillchives]

Probably still the county. The deed of sale lists TREASURER OF PARK CO as the previous owner. They probably got wind that it might be worth more than they initially thought.

[@kailexx1962]

Don't know about Section 24 specifically, but KOAA found that a mining company owns quite a bit of property around Section 24. (Probably just coincidence, right?)

[@oscarb9139]

How did this finally end?

[@stevesmith9459]

Why was no one asking who owned parcel 24 in the county's eyes! The retiring assessor, one of his relatives?

[@robertmorris8997]

This is Colorado right? figures For anyone that doesn't know, a section is a square mile. The section numbers shown indicate that the properties are next to each other. The county crooks swapped ownership of the sections. sue, sue, sue

[@melissajarvis4829]

Sure it's not just a simple typo?

[@robertmorris8997]

@@melissajarvis4829 That would be easy to fix. They, the county, aren't trying to fix it.

[@robertgates5164]

@@melissajarvis4829 If it were a simple typo, the Assessor wouldn't be refusing to respond to the purchaser's emails and dodging the media. He would simply fix the typo based upon the original purchase contract. The fact that he won't communicate and is hiding, hence not doing his job while collecting a taxpayer paycheck, is rather blatant evidence it was intentional on his part.

[@xheralt]

Possession is 9/10th of the law, and the guy working the other tenth has to be able to afford a lawyer.

[@dolphincliffs8864]

@@xheralt Lots of old mine shafts one could accidently fall into.

[@niyablake]

I'm sure they intended to steal the land

[@waynep343]

The big question is who owns 24 ... that is where the mineral deposit is .

[@ivanolsen7966]

a council empolyee ..... ps that's insider trading .... that .. IS ... ILLEGAL

[@copelandart]

Yep, sounds like follow the money; who profits from this switch?

[@waynep343]

@@copelandart i would contact the title insurance company. as they have the lawyers and the ability to handle issues like this..

[@dillchives]

Well, the records show that the previous owner of 23 was TREASURER OF PARK CO. They might have owned 24 as well, it's hard to find in their records.

[@karlblume9419]

Claimjumping still an issue out west.

[@kevint7019]

As of this date, the property owned by the Eckleys, listed by the county on the assessors website, still shows S23. The issue hasn't yet been rectified.

[@charlesreynolds7608]

they know that claim is good so there trying to screw you out of it

[@gbear1005]

Lol.. it's a civil matter.. yes, except it's a CRIMINAL issue.

[@DMAneoth]

It’s not a boundary line dispute at all. It’s a incorrect description (which holds no legal weight) by the assessors office and that erroneous description cannot over rule a legal description that was previously recorded with the county clerk.

[@JimDean002]

That's the way I'd look at it. If I had a purchase document for section 24, I'd treat it as my own, and already be working the claim. How can they stop you if you have the deed to section 24?

[@wdfkTV8555]

Abolish qualified immunity... Abolish qualified immunity... abolish immunity!

[@patrickcayton4480]

It is clear that these County officials have switched parcels after the fact, the question I'd like to have answered is who is benefiting from it???

[@perryfefchuk637]

Needs not matter ... They should be charged and jailed

[@SteveBueche1027]

If I rob a store and retire as a thief it doesn’t mean I’m not responsible for the crime.

[@hellcat1988]

I've learned the hard way myself that you should ALWAYS keep any paperwork when dealing with government officials and offices. You would be amazed how often they can "loose" files or things will somehow end up different between the time you've interacted with them to the time the data is entered in a computer or put in a filing cabinet.

[@theHAL9000]

While this sounds like a mess, there is a solid paper trail in the form of recorded deeds. Surprised this news segment didn't share a look at the paper trial with viewers. Obviously room here for suspicion over corruption at county level.

[@melissajarvis4829]

How hard is it to get county to correct their typo?

[@theHAL9000]

@@melissajarvis4829 Good question & don't know but no doubt a bureaucratic (long) process. Nevertheless a good land attorney, or even a laymen, should be able to go back through the public recorded records to check for continuity in title transfers, or spot a suspicious anomaly.

[@sewasewa6585]

I thought somebody said Park County treasurer owned parcel 23 and might have 24 as well

[@dlanouette]

@Koaa5, I thought you said you were going to followup when the new assessor started? I checked your web site, and I can't find anything...

[@barryallender4861]

They asked for it SUE THEM!

[@offgridhomesteaders863]

This whole system needs to burn down. This is not the America I grew up in.

[@timgraham7851]

Documents show 24, you own 24.

[@jakistuart]

There's a bad stink ALL over this.

[@oaf-77]

Some people should be charged with treason

[@therealexpletive]

sounds like someone is in bed with someone who wants that property for the minerals.

[@retirednavy8720]

I grew up in CO. It used to be a great place. A couple of millions fools from CA moved in and ruined it. This never would have happened in the CO of my youth.

[@charleswieand4445]

I grew up in Michigan used to be a great place till 10 million fips moved in (F Illinois people)

[@joerobinson4453]

Bait and switch Really a surprise when it's the country. Corruption at it's finnest.

[@jamest1148]

Something tells me that the county assessor and asst. assessor are enjoying the extra "bonuses" of their retirement.

[@dillchives]

According to the Park County Assessor's office, these people still own Sec 23, not 24. I wonder if this case is ongoing, settled, or was never filed -- would be nice for this station to do a follow up and at least post an update somewhere.

[@Mortlupo]

Wrong, they own 24, not 23.

[@dillchives]

@@Mortlupo When I saw this over a year ago, it was exactly as stated in the video on the Park County Assessor's website: they were listed as owning 23, and 24 was actually listed as being owned by Park County itself. Unfortunately their website is incredibly slow and somewhat hard to use, so it's actually kind of difficult to find anything about it right now.

[@dillchives]

@@Mortlupo I'm not sure if this channel allows links to be posted, but do a search for Park County, CO Assessor's office and search Property Data for Parcel Number 90011. You'll see that Mr. Eckley is listed as the owner of T06 R76 *S23* NW4. I'm not sure how to find the parcel number for S24. The seller of Parcel 23 is "Treasurer of Park Co", so if he bought it directly from them something screwy might have happened.

[@baltsosser]

"...work remotely..."= no show job.

[@michaeldixon7961]

This is Colorado. Have not yet found an update

[@bbeen40]

"That's a Civil Matter." Translation: "That level of justice is reserved for rich people, screw you pheasant!"

[@cashkitty3472]

But it's it because legal documents have been altered so now it's criminal

[@tarmancer]

KOAA where is this update you speak of?????

[@rswear]

It's been 2 years, any new developments?

[@1sotheary]

I'm guessing there were a few possibilities. And no, it wasn't an "honest" mistake by the county. It was intentional. The first thing is it could have been a grudge against the guy who bought the property. Someone at the county office just didn't like him and wanted to make him pay. Another thing is that someone probably wanted the land after it was already purchased and bribed someone at the county's office to change the records. Another possibility is someone had a buddy or a relative that wanted the land after it was purchased, and the records were changed. Regardless of why it happened, it was intentional and someone should absolutely be prosecuted. It's hard to believe that they can't figure out who changed the record. They know.

[@rockymntnliberty]

Don't you just love situations like this, we created a situation, we did the damage, and now you need to go pay an attorney to force us to fix what we did.

[@izzyizzm8761]

I miss the Wild WEST !! and BTO !

[@J3AD]

so the big question is who is the current owner of the plot in question and since when and all gov folks involved?

Dirty, dirty, dirty

[@shaunaellis6619]

I live in Fruitland, Utah. I found other people added to my property deed by someone in the assessor office. Im surprised this owner wasn't killed over minerals on property by greedy mining corporations.

[@thomaslemay8817]

I believe that is called a bait and switch and that is a crime if nor approved by all parties involved.

[@hphillips7425]

are there any government officials that are not corrupted or just plain dumb

[@harleymcclure9802]

Doing a Google search shows section 23 up for a 2019 tax sale with Ed Eckley listed as the owner. Searching the Park County, Colorado GIS fails to return any property owned by any Eckley.

[@dillchives]

If you look at the sales search on the Park County Assessor's site, you can see where Sec 23 changed ownership multiple times throughout the years, ultimately being owned by the Treasurer of Park Co, who sold it to Ed Eckley. Sec 24, however, can't be found using the same search. Interesting.

[@simolari67]

WHOEVER CHANGED IT TO STEAL THEIR MINERAL DIDNT GO THRU THE COURT SYSTEM SO WHY GO TO COURT TO DECIDE SWITCH IT BACK THEN GO TO COURT FOR THEIR CRIMES OF FRAUD

[@johnaashmore]

Nothing we can do, sue us!

[@cattigereyes1]

No criminal charges? WTF?

[@danieljones317]

I hop they took them to Federal court. Assessor retiring right after the sale.... This sounds like a payoff happened. More digging is needed.

[@edmonddebourbon8543]

They need to put a freeze on plot 24 so it's not sold to the guy who put this scam togerther

[@dbradley3]

Tony Soprano would be proud.

[@jaimemartinez8121]

That happened to me too the City attorney was fired County attorney fired Planning and Zoning manager fired all new people on the county I still haven't got there yet the attorneys told me the fence it in

[@cashstore1]

Fraud. RICO laws should be pursued.

[@TheBravo364]

Have the county remove the assessors property from the books and let these folks own his land.

[@nancybrouse5070]

Take to criminal court, sue the county, you will then own the mine but won't need the money.

[@jaimemartinez8121]

That happened to me to hear in Cameron County they they told me that they're going to take it through eminent domain but they haven't paid anything they just took it and then on top of that after I went to the county office they slap me with a second tax ID number on the same deed how do you like them apples and I'm still fighting it today still looking for a good civil rights attorney

[@otway00]

Any updates ?

[@niveknospmoht8743]

So where is the follow up---you said we could count on you for that?? Link?

[@chloehennessey6813]

That’s not a dispute. That’s fraud. Take everything from them.

[@Bingo551]

How are these two not in jail after for falsifying County and State records.???

[@dalereal7211]

Corruption at it finest..

[@dave5065]

Was there a title search done? if not have one done they would had to go in and change everything in the records. Use the old land record books called township and range records, it can be done and all records are open to the public. Hand writing documents can be found in these books hire a title company to do the research if you don't understand what I mean. I worked in a register of deeds for 26 years it is illegal to change them if they where you can sue them and they can be sent to prison for this! Next sue them they are not covered under any law when they do things like this.

[@kaycoats8344]

Changing the property line boundaries is AGAINST THE LAW!! SUE them!!

[@jaycole5353]

Well sounds like he owns 24 , someone needs to go to jail

[@perryfefchuk637]

These officials should then be quietly charged and jailed

[@mr.robinson1982]

This news story is more than 18 months old. Do you have an update??

[@zelmerashley6354]

File criminal charges against person who change document, this coruption fall under federal criminal activity, they not above law, first file police report, then contact FBI , alter document after sign federal crime, they being doing this lot, until someone prosecuted

[@jimcox8148]

As a surveyor, this isn't changes to the property line, this is changing the property to a mile away from intended. I don't know how Colorado handles property, but in Indiana the Recorder's Office is where official ownership is filed.

[@straycat1674]

I don’t know how this is not just outright criminal activities.

[@getoffyoubassandletsfish8565]

Ok they said they would follow up. What happened?

[@jonwinter8618]

knowingly making false legal documents and recording them is a crime and not just a civil matter. Hope this was resolved.

[@himhim3344]

I still don't understand what happened. Was the boundry changed after the bought 24 and mining isn't allowed in 23???

[@harleydude-xo8pu]

Elizabeth Watts I watched you everynight at 10 pm on Fox 5 in Vegas, I thought you were the best anchor Vegas had. Then when I had returned from an out of town vacation and turned on Fox 5 and you were gone, i didn't realize you had moved to a new area to anchor at until I came across this KZbin video. Hope your move to Colorado has been a good one for you. Local news in Vegas just isn't the same anymore.

[@thepubliusproject]

So where is the follow-up?

[@scottrocks1000]

Sounds like the county was going to give you the shaft!!!!!! SUE!!!!!! And these county officials need to be in jail!!

[@ocsob007]

so the assessor can arbitrarily manipulate the boundary lines/change parcels, but when the new owner finds out, suddenly ITS A CIVIL MATTER and he has to spend money on an attorney and go to court? WHY DIDN'T THE ASSESSOR HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO CHANGE THE PROPERTY LINE/parcel #?? FRAUD, PUT THEM ALL IN PRISON!

[@oldtimers6460]

You would think that the council would look at this very hard as more mistakes may have been made . Or was it a fraud by the council to rip people of and still keep the valuable land . Bet the price was lower for 23 than 24 when advertised . If only a few involved i would be questioning why they suddenly are working from home if i worked there .

[@jaycole5353]

If they can change it in the first place, they can change it back. Sounds like they didn't think they would get caught

[@Flip_Goat]

Surely there’s an update after 2 years

[@jackjones5314]

Was there a follow up? What is the status?

[@spartaeus]

So what was the eventual final outcome of this scandal ???

[@scottn322]

There should be a college course on passing the buck and obfuscation before entering into any sort of public office, this is ridiculous.

[@maxxmasson4263]

Corruption and someone's greed is at work here

[@lisamarieashby2523]

Pigs in positions of power - and that is an insult to actual animals. Sick of people being evil just because they can. Stop!

[@johncorey1911]

Does anyone know how this ended up?

[@rayberger2694]

You will find your answer when you look into what they did with section 24. Who was it sold to, and who is related to the person they sold it to.