Carie Hallford, who along with husband Jon Hallford was originally headed to prison after taking a plea deal for crimes involving nearly 190 bodies at a southern Colorado funeral home, will instead stand trial.

Carie Hallford withdrew her guilty plea in federal court Tuesday and is now set to take her case to trial, according to court records. 

The funeral home in Penrose, about 35 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, came under a multi-agency investigation in October 2023 after complaints about a foul odor in the area. Investigators said they found about 190 bodies in various states of decomposition that were not properly stored.

Last year, both Carie and Jon Hallford pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud and were expected to receive a prison sentence between 78 months and 15 years. 

However, according to court records, at a hearing last week Judge Nina Wang informed both defendants that after review she found the plea agreements were “not in the public’s best interest.” According to court records, Wang informed both Jon and Carie Hallford they would need to return to court to “be prepared to either withdraw from the plea agreement” or proceed under new terms. 

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According to court records, Jon Hallford opted to keep his guilty plea, with the only change being an understanding that Judge Want could go above the originally expected maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and that Jon Hallford is not able to withdraw his plea of guilty if he chooses to do so. Carie Hallford opted to withdraw her plea entirely and is set for trial, according to court records. 

Court records show Jon Hallford’s attorney, Virginia Grady, filed a motion opposing the ruling from the court prior to Tuesday’s hearing. 

“Mr. Hallford objects to this Court’s finding that the plea agreement ‘is not in the public interest,'” Hallford’s defense wrote in the motion. “Such a finding, at this time, is inconsistent with prosecutorial independence and violates Mr. Hallford’s right to assistance of counsel at sentencing.” 

Jon Halford’s sentencing hearing is still slated to take place March 20, according to court records. A trial date for Carie Hallford has yet to be scheduled, and it’s unclear what role the extension in her federal case will play in her state-level case. 

Kate Singh, a spokeswoman for the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, stated there is a “possibility” that the Hallford’s sentencing date in state court could be delayed by Carie Hallford’s plea withdrawal. 

In January Carie and Jon Hallford both pleaded guilty in state court to 190 counts of abuse of a corpse. 

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The state plea agreements, if accepted by Judge Eric Bentley, would see Jon Hallford sentenced to 20 years in prison while Carie Hallford faces a sentencing range of 15 to 20 years in prison. On the state level, if the plea agreement is accepted, all other charges will be dismissed.

The Hallfords are set to return to court in their state case on April 18 for sentencing. 

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