ALAMOSA — A 45-year-old resident of Del Norte was taken into custody by deputies with the Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office (RGSO) on Monday morning for electioneering. 

According to a statement released by Rio Grande County Sheriff Anne Robinson, on Monday, Oct. 21, at 10:18 a.m., a Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Deputy contacted Lawrence Trujillo, 45, of Del Norte.  

Trujillo was within 100 feet of a polling location and ballot drop box at the courthouse annex building and was displaying a candidate flag, approaching voters and attempting to influence their vote.  

The RGSO deputy asked him several times to move to a position outside the 100 feet limit but Trujillo refused. He then became belligerent and aggressive, ultimately making a threat against the deputy. 

When deputies attempted to take Trujillo into custody, he resisted. He was handcuffed and transported to the sheriff’s office where he was released on a summons for electioneering, disorderly conduct, obstruction of government operations, and resisting arrest. 

According to Colorado Code § 1-13-714, “The term ‘electioneering’ includes campaigning for or against any candidate who is on the ballot or any ballot issue or ballot question that is on the ballot. Electioneering also refers to the distribution or display of campaign posters, signs, or other campaign materials or apparel, including materials or apparel promoting or opposing a candidate or displaying a candidate's name, likeness, or campaign slogan.” 

The Code further states, “No person shall do any electioneering on the day of any election, or during the time when voting is permitted for any election, within any polling location or in any public street or room or in any public manner within one hundred feet of any building in which a polling location is located, as publicly posted by the designated election official. 

“Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.”  

As was reported in Colorado Newsline, County Clerk Cindy Hill said she thinks this was the first electioneering arrest during her 14-year tenure.  

The incident involving Trujillo garnered public attention when it was mentioned by Secretary of State Gena Griswold during a press conference on Monday. 

“Colorado voters, you have a right to cast a ballot without intimidation, and we take that very seriously,” Griswold was reported as saying.