Wasatch County Council to vote on resolution urging indicted sheriff to resign

The Wasatch County Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday at 4 p.m. on a resolution calling on Sheriff Jared Rigby to resign, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Rigby has refused, and the council cannot remove him because he is an elected official. ^[1]

Rigby was indicted earlier this month on obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, and a misdemeanor count of making a false statement. Prosecutors allege he interfered with the prosecution of Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband. Rigby has pleaded not guilty. ^[1]

The resolution says Rigby lost access to a private statewide law enforcement database. As a result, it says, he cannot check active arrest warrants or criminal histories, get information needed to serve warrants, or run clearance checks before inmates are released from the jail. He must also sign a visitor log and be escorted through the sheriff's office. ^[1]

The county offered to pay Rigby his remaining salary and benefits if he resigned now, the Tribune reported. He declined, and he also declined to work from home. He lost the June Republican primary to Jeremy Hales, and his term ends in January. He did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday, and he previously told The Park Record he would not resign. ^[1]

The indictment is redacted and blocked from public view. Third District Judge Richard Mrazik has set a Nov. 4 hearing to decide whether details of the charging document can be released. According to KPCW, cited by the Tribune, the investigation centers on an anonymous letter prosecutors received before the Richins trial. A motion from Rigby's attorney states the charges accuse Rigby of sending the letter. ^[1]