An investigation by Renton police into an alleged sexual assault by King County Sheriff John Urquhart has been forwarded to the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office to determine possible charges. The accuser is a former deputy.
The King County Prosecutor's Office is not involved in the case to avoid a conflict of interest.
Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe said he will make the charging decision in the case.
“Before being elected I was the head of our sex crimes unit for many years. I have seen and made decisions on hundreds of those type of cases,” said Roe.
The Renton PD investigation began in September when the King County Sheriff’s Office referred the case to them. The man making the allegation is a former deputy who worked for the sheriff's office for nine years and is now a police officer out of state.
Former deputy Brian Barnes accuses Urquhart of groping him outside a Renton restaurant three years ago after the two had dinner together.
The sheriff has insisted Barnes is a disgruntled employee with an ax to grind and that the accusation was politically motivated. The accusation came during Urquhart's re-election campaign.
Urquhart was defeated last week by Mitzi Johanknect.
