Jefferson sheriff pleads not guilty to felony charges
Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen pleaded not guilty to four felony charges in district court Wednesday.
He faces three charges of use of public money or a financial card for personal use and another charge of misuse of public funds by a public officer.
According to a grand jury indictment, he knowingly used public money for a cell phone for his wife and to pay for a membership to the National Rifle Association.
If found guilty, he could face up to 47 years in prison and $35,000 in fines.
To ensure Olsen’s right to a speedy trial, Judge Greg Moeller set the court date for May 11.
At the end of the hearing, Moeller brought attention to an ethical concern.
Attorney Sam Angell is representing Olsen in the case, but his firm also represents Jefferson County on at least one pending civil case. That could mean Angell is representing both the defendant and the victim at the same time.
When asked by the judge, the defense said there was not a waiver allowing the potential conflict. Moeller said the issue needs to be cleared up immediately because this is a case based around public trust.
Later Wednesday afternoon, Olsen’s attorney told us he’s looked at the situation carefully and under the Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct, there is no conflict of interest.
Despite the charges, Olsen still holds the office, which some say that isn’t right.
“For the sake of the community and the citizens and Jefferson County employees and especially the sheriff’s office employees that he should take administrative leave until his issue is solved one way or the other,” said Shelley Allred of the Restoring Integrity Project, a group of Jefferson County citizens.
Olsen is not required to take leave is because he’s an elected official. If he were a regular county employee he would have been put on paid administrative leave immediately, authorities said. However, all three county commissioners as a group could require Olsen to take leave pending the outcome of his trial.
