CANON CITY � A former Fremont County Sheriff�s deputy accused of stealing from a homicide crime scene was sentenced Friday to two years in prison.

Christopher Pape, 30, was sentenced n connection with misdemeanor charges of theft and first-degree official misconduct, as well as felony tampering with physical evidence in connection with the theft from the crime scene where Kenneth Orchard, 76, of Canon City, died May 22.

Pape, who worked for the sheriff�s office for five years, is accused of taking nearly $6,000 worth of silver ingots, a turquoise bracelet and coins from the Orchard bedroom when he was on scene to assist with an investigation into Orchard�s death.

Video footage from the security camera at Canon City Coins and Collectables shop showed Pape entering the coin shop the day after Orchard�s death and removing several items from a black bag, including several large silver coins, silverware and several large pieces of silver that he sold for $400, according to an affidavit authored by a Pueblo County Sheriff detective asked to investigate the theft.

Fremont County Sheriff�s officials and Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents initially were called to the scene as the result of a fire. However, the cause of the fire was listed as suspicious after Orchard�s body was found inside the home in the 1800 block of Pinion Avenue. Fremont County Sheriff officials have since confirmed Orchard was the victim of homicide.

Orchard�s wife Lureen Orchard said, �Mistakes have been made and those mistakes impacted the lives of many people. Impact was felt heavily among his fellow law enforcement team.�

Orchard was �brutally beaten, knocked down the stairs and his body and home set on fire.� Pape�s theft was �hitting below the belt at its very worst,� Lureen Orchard said.

Orchard�s son and four daughters pushed for the maximum sentence for Pape, which under the plea agreement would have been three years in prison and an additional two years in jail for a total of five years incarceration. They asked for the maximum sentence, pointing out Pape betrayed the public trust, stole from the family that already had been victimized, made it nearly impossible for any chance to solve Orchard�s homicide, and a murderer still walks free in the community.

�The horrors my family have endured cannot be put to words,� Jeanette Orchard said. �Our suffering was made infinitely worse when on June 8 we discovered that the officers who responded � instead of helping to catch the robbers/arsonists/murderers who destroyed my father�s life � elected to continue the robbery that had been interrupted. Pape literally picked up where the robbers left off and by so doing helped the murderers escape justice.�

Defense Attorney Ryan Robertson of Colorado Springs said his client �is a good man who made a horrible mistake.�

Prior to hearing his sentence, Pape apologized and �begged the court�s mercy.�

�I know what I did was wrong and I have been living in such anguish and extreme guilt. I have never done anything like that in my life,� Pape said. �I cannot apologize enough for what I have done to the Orchard family. I can only beg for forgiveness.

�I have lost my career and credibility. I further damaged the community�s trust in the sheriff�s office,� Pape said.

Pape also was ordered to pay $5,905 in restitution to Lureen Orchard.

tharmon@chieftain.com