Plea Deal Delayed 90 Days for Former Aguilar Official Facing Felony Theft Charges

The $26,000 that prosecutors say Tyra Marie Avila siphoned from Aguilar's federally backed water project has no resolution date. A Las Animas County judge granted a 90-day continuance Wednesday in Avila's felony case, pushing any potential plea agreement into mid-summer at the earliest and leaving the town's Augmentation Reservoir project in prolonged financial uncertainty.

Avila, the former administrator and clerk for the small Las Animas County town, faces multiple felony counts including theft, embezzlement and cybercrime. The October 2025 charges followed a joint investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Las Animas County Sheriff's Office. Prosecutors allege she diverted funds from accounts designated for the Augmentation Reservoir project, commingling federal loan and grant money with the town's general operating accounts.

At the Las Animas County Courthouse hearing Wednesday, both defense counsel and prosecutors requested the additional time to finalize plea language, work through outstanding discovery and complete restitution calculations that may factor into any final agreement. The continuance does not alter the charges against Avila, who remains presumed innocent.

What the delay leaves unresolved is the question most pressing for Aguilar residents: whether the water project can stay on schedule while legal negotiations extend. The alleged diversions have already forced the town to restructure its financial controls, including establishing separate accounts for the project and adding signatory requirements to prevent federal and general funds from mixing again. Those steps were taken in part to reassure federal grantors that the misuse was isolated and that proper oversight is now in place.

The Augmentation Reservoir project is not optional. It is a legally mandated water infrastructure undertaking, and any construction slowdowns or contractor disputes tied to the funding disruption carry direct consequences for service reliability and project completion timelines.

The next 90 days will determine whether this case ends with a negotiated resolution or moves toward trial. A successful plea would almost certainly include restitution terms, offering a path to recover the alleged $26,000 shortfall and stabilize the town's relationship with its federal funders. If negotiations fail, the case proceeds to trial, where forensic accounting testimony and evidence of the alleged fund transfers would take center stage.

The updated hearing schedule will be reflected in the Las Animas County court docket once the continuance period closes.