Attorney general seeks to bring new evidence against Jefferson County Sheriff

The Idaho attorney general’s office filed a motion to bring potential new evidence against Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen.

The sheriff is facing three felony counts of misusing public money to buy and pay for a cell phone for his wife.

The motion claims Olsen “threatened witnesses and potential witnesses” and “attempted to extort a favorable resolution” in the criminal case against him.

This means the state is asking for a jury to hear new evidence against Olsen in his trial beginning May 11.

The state filed the motion March 30.

There are two categories of evidence it’s asking to be admissible in court.

The first: Allegations the sheriff threatened potential witnesses claiming he will retaliate against his employees if they go against him.

The states argument is that Olsen’s threats could be caused by a guilty conscience.

The second category: allegations of extortion.

That accusation is related to battery charges filed by Jefferson County against an Attorney General investigator.

Jefferson County Deputy Prosecutor Amelia Sheets filed a complaint saying she was inappropriately touched by an investigator.

The state is claiming after those charges were filed Olsen contacted the office to try and work out a deal that would benefit both parties.

In response to the states motion, Olsen’s attorney Gary Cooper says these are “unfounded allegations that are not supported by available evidence.”

Cooper states the sheriff did not threaten any witness.

Instead he says he notified employees of his office they were expected to continue doing their jobs even though he had been indicted.

Cooper also states there is no evidence Olsen contacted the attorney general’s office in order to extort a favorable resolution of this case.

He also argues at the time Olsen allegedly committed extortion he was under investigation but was not aware he would be charged with a crime.

The phone call occurred three months before the grand jury convened and indicted Olsen.

The state will have to prove to the judge the allegations are relevant to Olsen’s pending charges of misuse of public money.

Under Idaho code the allegations in the motion could be filed as two felony charges.

On Thursday morning, the attorney general’s office would not comment on the pending litigation.

Judge Greg Moeller will rule on the motion April 20.