Special prosecutor appointed in investigation of Jefferson sheriff

A special prosecutor from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office will investigate Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen.

Jefferson County Prosecutor Robin Dunn filed the motion Jan. 14, claiming a conflict of interest because of Olsen’s position as a fellow elected official. The motion was approved by 7th District Judge Alan Stevens. The request was received by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office this week.

The investigation came at Olsen’s request last year. The Attorney General’s Office said Olsen did not ask for a special prosecutor.

The case deals with Olsen issuing a county cell phone to his wife, as well as a sheriff’s credit card statement. As part of a separate, ongoing investigation, the Attorney General’s Office is looking into how the credit card statement was released by a group calling itself the Restoring Integrity Project. It contained sensitive financial information.