Wash. Supreme Court published opinion — 989681.pdf

Citation: Wash. Supreme Court published opinion — 989681.pdf
Jurisdiction: Washington (state)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/989681.pdf ↗

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5. Illegally intimidated public servants and witnesses in investigations into
his conduct by raising false allegations of impropriety and threatening
witnesses’ jobs (petition charges 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 25)

(a) Charges 15, 16, 17, and 18: April 7, 2020 Accusation

On April 7, 2020, Sheriff Hatcher had a meeting with Detective Carlson to

discuss the “‘firearms program.’” Id. at 101-02. Detective Carlson had never met

with Sheriff Hatcher in a private meeting before. Id. at 102. In the meeting, Sheriff

Hatcher told Detective Carlson that in 2017, Commanders Law and Caughey had

used county ammunition to go on a hunting trip and hunt squirrels. Sheriff Hatcher

did not tell Detective Carlson that he had authorized the use of the ammunition for

the trip. Detective Carlson was “surprised” that Sheriff Hatcher was discussing the

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For the current opinion, go to https://www.lexisnexis.com/clients/wareports/.
In re Recall Charges Against Benton County Sheriff Gerald D. Hatcher,
No. 98968-1

ammunition use by two material witnesses in the investigations in which Sheriff

Hatcher was the suspect. Id. During the investigation, Sheriff Hatcher told Ms.

Blatt that he had not approved the use of the ammunition for the trip. This was a

misleading statement as he later confirmed that he had approved the taking and use

of the county ammunition for training on the trip.

Sergeant Erickson alleges this amounts to intimidating witnesses under

RCW 9A.72.110 and intimidating public servants under RCW 9A.76.180.

Under RCW 9A.72.110,