Attorney General investigating Franklin County sheriff’s chief deputy
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PRESTON — An investigation is underway into the chief deputy of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Deputy Josh Purser is being investigated by the Idaho Attorney General, according to a letter obtained by EastIdahoNews.com.
The letter, dated Sept. 22, was written by Deputy Attorney Mark A. Kubinski to Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Vic Pearson in response to a request Pearson made of Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s office.
“You have requested the Idaho Attorney General’s Office to investigate and review for prosecution the above case/matter as a potential action against a county elected officer,” Kubinski wrote. “As the prosecuting attorney for Franklin County who has concurrent jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute any crime that may have occurred, you have asked our office to assume full responsibility for the case.”
The letter cites Pearson’s request due to a conflict of interest in the local prosecutor’s office investigating a local sheriff’s deputy.
Details of why Purser is under investigation are not contained in the letter, and the Attorney General’s Office denied a request from EastIdahoNews.com for documents related to the case.
“It is denied as materials responsive to this request are part of an active law enforcement investigation,” the response states.
All decisions regarding the case will be the responsibility of Wasden’s office, and if criminal charges need to be filed, Pearson’s office will do that.
It’s unclear if Purser has been placed on leave. Pearson did not immediately respond to requests for information, and Franklin County Sheriff David Fryar declined to comment on the matter but said he will discuss the situation when the timing is appropriate.
Purser has been working for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for nearly eight years. He was hired in 2014 to replace one of two deputies who resigned following an investigation into alleged violations of department policy, according to the Herald Journal.