Steamboat Pilot & Today

An Oak Creek couple charged with stealing from the Wagon Wheel Homeowners Association in Stagecoach pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to felony theft.

Cynthia Riebschlager, 54, and Tommy Riebschlager, 51, are being charged with two counts of Class 4 felony theft on suspicion of stealing about $5,000 and miscellaneous property from the homeowners association.

Cynthia Riebschlager, previously reported as Cynthia Daley, confirmed in District Court that the co-defendant in the case is her husband and that she goes by her married name.

The Riebschlagers were assigned different cases, though District Judge Paul McLimans made it clear that the couple were being jointly charged.

After a scheduling conflict between McLimans and the attorneys, Cynthia Riebschlager decided to waive her right to a speedy trial so that her Steamboat Springs attorney, Charles Feldmann, would not be rushed into trial immediately after the scheduled conclusion of a trial in Grand County.

After Cynthia Riebschlager pleaded not guilty and had her trial date set, Tommy Riebschlager also pleaded not guilty to the charges and waived his right to a speedy trial so the couple could be processed together.

Assistant District Attorney Kerry St. James thought a three-day trial would be sufficient for the trial; Feldmann disagreed, estimating he would need about four days.

Feldmann said he anticipated a lengthier trial based on the number of witnesses who would testify about the homeowners association policies and procedures, as well as bank statements.

According to court documents, the Riebschlagers are accused of stealing money and property from the homeowners association between Jan. 1, 2001, and Oct. 4, 2004. Cynthia Riebschlager is a former property manager for the homeowner's association. Tom--my Riebschlager is a former president of the homeowners association.

Several new association board members contacted the Routt County Sheriff's Office after they became concerned with the legitimacy of some of the figures the Riebschlagers presented during their employment.

Routt County Undersheriff Dan Taylor said Detective Rachelle Redmond investigated the case for more than a year before the couple were issued a summons to appear in court on the charges. Because of the nature and circumstances surrounding the alleged crime, the Riebschlagers never were arrested and did not serve any time in jail.

McLimans set the joint trial for March 13, 2006.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234

or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com