Sheriff’s trial will be moved out of Jefferson County

A judge ruled Monday afternoon Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen’s jury trial will not be in Jefferson County.

District Judge Gregory Moeller said several locations would be considered. Olsen’s defense attorney Gary Cooper, filed a motion to change the venue for the jury trial, saying the local jury pool is tainted. An out-of-the-media district location would be preferable but Moeller says Lemhi or Teton county courts could be a possibility, but Twin Falls is also an option.

Moeller also ruled on multiple motions for the sheriff’s trial starting May 11.

One of the state’s requests to admit new evidence against Olsen was granted.

Threatening or intimidation of witnesses will be admissible in court.

The judge said it could show a conscience of guilt.

The other motion saying that Olsen tried to extort the state for a favorable resolution will not be admissible in court.

Another motion ruled on today, the state claims the sheriff’s wife should not testify claiming she is a hostile witnesses. The judge ruled Olsen’s wife will testify in the case.

Another ruling granted was the state’s request to throw out a statement from 2012 where previous county commissioners state they were aware and authorized the use of a county cell phone to the sheriff. That could be admitted in the future.

The judge said the court will stay on schedule, despite the venue change.

The venue should be decided by the end of the week.

Olsen is charged with three counts of misuse of public funds, after he was indicted by a grand jury in January.