Sheriff Facing 33 Years In Prison To Serve Only 15 Days

Jefferson County, Idaho Sheriff Blair Olsen was sentenced Monday after being convicted by a jury in May on three felony counts of misusing public funds.

Following an investigation by the Idaho Attorney General’s special prosecution unit, Olsen was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury in January.

He was charged with illegally providing a county-paid cell phone to his wife, misusing more than $1,000 in public funds from from 2010 to 2012.

Olsen, who was facing up to 33 years in prison, was sentenced to a total of 75 days in jail for the three counts – but will serve his time concurrently meaning after the first 15 days, he will have the option of completing his sentence with community service.

In other words, if Olsen performs 120 hours of community service within 60 days, he will only be required to serve 15 days in jail.

He must pay a $2,500 fine and $1,023 in restitution.

Judge Greg Moeller also issued a withheld judgment, meaning that after three years of probation, Olsen will get his civil rights back if he complies with the terms of his sentence.

The conviction however, prohibits Olsen from running for public office and he has been removed from his position of Sheriff in Jefferson County.

“Public corruption cases are serious for the simple fact that the offender holds a position of public trust and authority, and then takes advantage of that position,” Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. “This remains true if the crime results in the loss of even the smallest amount of public funds.”

Wasden added, “but the real loss in these cases is to the erosion of trust and faith citizens have in their government. Tackling public corruption is essential to restoring that trust and faith citizens must have in their government and those elected to lead it.”

Officials say because of safety concerns for the officer, Olsen will not be held at the Jefferson County Jail. The location of where he will serve his sentence has not been released.

In April, prosecutors also filed motions that Olsen threatened witnesses and other officers with retaliation if they implicated him, and “attempted to extort a favorable resolution in the criminal case against him.”

Sheriff Facing 33 Years In Prison To Serve Only 15 Days is a post from Cop Block – Badges Don’t Grant Extra Rights