Arapahoe County probation officers have filed a complaint for revocation of probation on former sheriff Patrick Sullivan. Sullivan has been summoned to appear in the Arapahoe County court Thursday May 15 to answer the charges.

Sullivan is accused of failing to comply with the terms of his probation. A probation violation occurs when a defendant, also referred to as a probationer, fails to meet the requirements set forth by their probation officer.
 
 

Top 5 ways to violate probation:

• Fail to meet or contact you probation officer
• Miss or have Hot or Dirty UA’s
• Possess alcohol, drugs or weapons
• Fail to attend classes
• Commit another crime

Pat Sullivan violated those requirements by:

• Leaving the state without permission from the court
• Failing to provide urine screens or UA’s
• Failing to provide drug screens
• Testing positive for drugs, Meth
• Testing positive for alcohol

 
Court records indicate that he has a history of violating the terms of probation. His two year probation period was extended by three months.

What is a probation revocation Hearing?

You may be arrested, receive a summons or detained for violating probation conditions. You will be given a date for probation revocation hearing and advised of the violations and the penalties you’re facing. You have the opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty at that time. You do not have the right to a jury trial at a revocation hearing.

A municipal, county or district judge has up to five days after notification by probation to determine if a violation exists. At that time probation is either reinstated or revoked. The court may grant a continuance to retain counsel.

At the Revocation Hearing, the prosecution must prove that a violation has occurred. In Pat Sullivan’s case the violations seem too many, too often. He may be facing jail time. The probation officer and prosecutor make their recommendations to the court.

In Sullivan’s case there was sufficient evidence to revoke his probation. It is not difficult to violate these terms and conditions of probation but they are what every defendant agrees to.

Probation may revoked if:

• The probationer has committed a crime
• Is in violation of probation in Colorado or another state
• The probationer leaves the state without permission
• The probationer fails to appear to answer charges
• Failure to comply
• Tests come back positive for illegal drugs or alcohol
• The probationer has possession of a weapon

 
Probation officers are tough but in Sullivan’s case the may not be tough enough. Sullivan knows better than most what the consequences are for his actions but he can’t seem to stop breaking the terms by using meth and not showing up.

A “methamphetamine for sex” sting November 2011 caught this former hero in a bizarre and shocking compromise. In April 2012 the once celebrated Arapahoe County sheriff fell from grace and was sentenced to 38 days jail and two years probation. He spent that time in the same jail that once bore his name, the Sullivan Detention Center. The county commissioners unanimously voted to remove his name a few hours after he plead guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance (F6) and a misdemeanor charge of soliciting prostitution (M3).

Learn more about probation violations defense.