by George Gramlich
On Tuesday, February 26, 2024, an Arrest Warrant was issued by the Custer County Court for Custer County’s Sheriff Deputy, Jason Ryan Salbato. He was charged with violating two Colorado Revised Statutes:
19-3-304 Persons required to report child abuse or neglect (M2) and
18-3-208 Reckless Endangerment (M2).
Both are second degree misdemeanors.

According to the Affidavit for Arrest Warrant issued by 11th Judicial District Attorney’s Investigator, Andrew Corey.  Corey was
requested by District Attorney Linda Stanley to investigate “possible criminal charges on Sgt. Jason Ryan Salbato of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.”
The Affidavit states that Sgt. Salbato was contacted by an individual on January 23, 2024 by a Custer County resident and that the individual wanted to talk to a Deputy. Salbato contacted the individual and the individual informed Salbato that he had been told that a certain father of a minor female “had been beaten on the back with a belt.” Salbato told the resident that “he would look into this matter and contact the Department of Human Services.”
Sgt. Salbato actions after the contact are described in the Affidavit:

Per Sgt Salbato’s report 24-0065 at approximately 1l:57a.m on January 24, 2024, he contacted Alexis Enslow a DHS Supervisor via telephone and while discussing another matter he was called away and unable to report this incident.
Per Sgt Salbato’s report 24-0065 on January 29, 2024, He went to Ms. Enslow’s office, she was engaged in another matter. He was again dispatched to another matter.
Per Sgt Salbato’s report 24-0065 on January 30, 2024, at approximately 9:26 a.m. He contacted Ms. Enslow via telephone. Ms. Enslow informed him she was contacted regarding child abuse involving. XXXXXX. Sgt Salbato informed Ms. Enslow Mr. Vandeusen had reported the information to Sgt Salbato on January 23, 2024.
It was later found that XXXXXX had taken. XXXXXX with him to California.
Sgt Salbato had many opportunities to send a text. message, email, phone call or voicemail to the Department of Human Services over the entire seven-day period from the day it was originally reported to him. Sgt Salbato also could have opened a case and investigated the information he had received.
Based upon the foregoing information, your Affiant is requesting that a warrant be issued for the arrest of Jason Ryan Salbato (DOB XXXXXX), for the offense(s):

CRS 19-3-304 Persons required to report child abuse or neglect

(M2) CRS 18-3-208 Reckless endangerment (M2)

Sgt. Salbato was arrested in Custer County on February 26th. Bail was set at $500 on a Personal Recognize Bond.
Custer County Sheriff Rich Smith declined to comment as it is an “HR issue”.  However, he did state that Sgt. Salbato was no longer employed by the Sheriff’s Office. Smith noted that the Sheriff’s Office is an “at will” employer. This status allows the Sheriff to remove a person from employment immediately and that is an important tool for law enforcement agencies.
(Our thanks to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office for their transparency, accountability and concern for the public)