Wasatch County sheriff's indictment follows years of controversy
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Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby faced years of scrutiny over his conduct and leadership before being charged in connection with the prosecution of Kouri Richins' murder case.
Why it matters: The charges cap off a tumultuous tenure for Rigby since he took office in 2019, marked by allegations of retaliation against officers and interference in investigations.
Driving the news: Rigby was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, and making a false written statement, a class B misdemeanor, per court documents. Partial court records containing the charges were revealed last Wednesday.
- Former Summit County Sheriff David Edmunds was also charged with obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony. Both have pleaded not guilty.
An attorney for Rigby did not respond to a list of questions sent by Axios last Thursday.
Between the lines: Most of the indictment was sealed, so the specific allegations against Rigby and Edmunds aren't clear.
- A Nov. 4 hearing is scheduled to decide whether the indictment should be made public, per the Salt Lake Tribune.
Flashback: The state's public safety commissioner appointed Rigby in 2022 to head the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a state agency that investigates police misconduct.
- Yes, but: The appointment was derailed after a FOX 13 investigation revealed a video showing Rigby persuading a Heber City police officer against pursuing excessive force allegations against the officer's chief.
Zoom in: Last year, Wasatch County enlisted a retired judge to investigate allegations of "potential civil and administrative misconduct" in the Sheriff's Office.
- The report released last September found "no findings of gross mismanagement or illegal activities."
- It cited allegations of Rigby providing exam answers to preferred candidates up for promotion, as well as perceptions of retaliation against employees participating in the probe.
"Many witnesses expressed their observation that Sheriff Rigby was an 'absentee' sheriff, and that they rarely saw him in the office," the judge wrote.
- After the report's release, Rigby told TownLift he planned to make "whatever changes or improvements" needed to support the community and sheriff's office.
The latest: Rigby also faces scrutiny over the investigation into the fatal shooting of Patrick Hayes, a 61-year-old man who died in 2024 after a road rage fight near Jordanelle Reservoir.
- Hayes' family has accused Rigby of mishandling and interfering with the investigation. A man who said he shot Hayes in self-defense did not face homicide charges.
- Rigby has maintained that a gap in Utah's self-defense law hamstrung prosecutors from pursuing such charges, the Park Record reported.
- The family has asked the Utah Attorney General's Office to review the investigation in light of the new accusations against Rigby.
What they're saying: "We want to acknowledge the seriousness of this matter. It does impact us; it certainly impacts the public's perception," Wasatch County manager Dustin Grabau said in a statement to KPCW on Rigby's charges.
- "Regardless of what happens with the sheriff, we have good people in place who can continue to protect our community."
What's next: Rigby is in office through January 2027 after losing the GOP primary to Jeremy Hales, who is likely to win the seat in November against write-in candidate Paul Moore.