Jefferson County sheriff charged with 4 felony counts
The Jefferson County sheriff is facing felony charges related to allegations he was misusing funds.
Sheriff Blair Olsen 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.
The maximum sentence for three of the charges Olsen is facing is up to 14 years of jail time and a $10,000 fine per count.
The other is up to five years in prison with a $5,000 fine.
According to the indictment, Olsen knowingly used public money to buy a cellphone and cellphone services for his wife.
In addition, the indictment claims he used Jefferson County funds without permission to buy a personal lifetime membership to the National Rifle Association.
The charges date back from January 2010 to January 2015.
At the time of the offenses, Olsen was in public office.
Bruce Baxter, founder of the Restoring Integrity Project, said this could be the beginning. His group has filed several complaints with the state attorney general regarding several leaders in Jefferson County.
“We think there is much, much more, but I’d like to remind everybody these are allegations,” said Baxter. “He is not guilty until convicted in a court of law. Also I’d like to state there are much, much bigger issues in Jefferson County, and a lot more people involved, in our opinion.”
Baxter said his group is concerned about County Prosecutor Robin Dunn, who is the subject of a recall petition that will go to vote this spring.
The indictment of Olsen, however, does not mention Dunn at all.
Baxter said Jefferson County did not want to get the attorney general’s office to help with the investigation, but now it’s out of their hands.
The Restoring Integrity Project committee recently helped pass a state law that allows the attorney general to investigate without county consent.
Grand juries are secret, and it is unknown if this one is still in session and if other Jefferson County officials are under investigation.
Deputy Attorney General Jason Spillman will prosecute this case. Olsen will appear for arraignment before 7th District Judge Alan Stephens on Feb. 11.
