CAÑON CITY – Eleventh Judicial District Attorney Molly Chilson has given the governor notice that she intends to resign her post effective June 8.

The 11th Judicial District includes Chaffee, Custer, Fremont and Park counties, including Cañon City, Salida and Fairplay.

Chilson, whose initial term as district attorney ran between 2004 and 2008, was re-elected to the post in 2016. She is a Republican.

“It has been an interesting couple of years and the dynamics of the office have really changed,” Chilson told The Pueblo Chieftain. “It’s a decision that has been a long time coming.”

Chilson’s tenure has been made more difficult by public conflicts with Fremont County officials during which she has worked to get additional funding for the district attorney’s office. Chilson also prosecuted former Fremont County Clerk and Recorder Katie Barr in connection with an alleged check-kiting scheme.

When that case was resolved with a plea bargain last May, Chilson came under fire from the Fremont County commissioners, who wrote a letter indicating they were “appalled” by the sweetheart deal given Barr.

Chilson’s office also has had to prosecute six law enforcement officers accused of wrongdoing since 2017 and Chilson herself prosecuted four of the cases.

Chilson, a resident of Salida, said Governor Jared Polis will be responsible for appointing a replacement. Chilson is a Republican; Polis is a Democrat.

Assistant District Attorney Thom LeDoux told the Chieftain that he will apply for the post. LeDoux, a Republican, previously served as district attorney between 2008 and 2016, having been elected to the post twice.

Chilson said she indicated to Polis in a letter that she would step down if a replacement can be found sooner.