Urquhart Might Face Sex Assault Charge Over 2014 Groping Incident

RENTON, WA - The Seattle Times is reporting that Renton police are recommending Sheriff John Urquhart be charged with a crime over an alleged 2014 groping incident. The Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office will now decide whether to charge Urquhart based on the Renton police investigation.

The Renton police investigation found that Urquhart may have committed indecent liberties, a felony.

Former deputy Brian Barnes, 49, now a college campus officer in the Boston area, filed a criminal complaint earlier this fall with the sheriff's office alleging that Urquhart groped him after they had dinner in Renton in 2014. The investigation was handed over to Renton police this fall.

Urquhart has denied the allegations. In October, he released the results of a polygraph test where he answered questions about the allegations. The results indicated Urquhart did not lie when he answered a question about sexual contact with Barnes.

Urquhart said in a statement that Barnes' allegation was a "last minute attempt to sway an election." Urquhart did end up losing his reelection bid to Major Mitzi Johanknecht. Urquhart filed a defamation suit against Barnes shortly after Election Day.

Barnes told Patch on Nov. 1 that he was ostracized after filing a complaint about the groping incident in 2014. He left the department and was eventually paid a $160,000 settlement. Barnes said Urquhart made working conditions tough for whistleblowers.

"The problem," Barnes said in November, "is the culture of fear he's got in that building."

Urquhart released a lengthy statement Tuesday night through the King County Sheriff spokeswoman Sgt. Cindi West:

Barnes has a history of making allegations going back at least twelve years to when he was a police officer in Webster, MA. In fact, this is the third elected official against whom he has made a criminal allegation just before an election.

Barnes has also filed official complaints over the years with the Sheriff’s Office Internal Investigations Unit, the King County Ombudsman, the King County Prosecutor’s Office, the Seattle-King County Civil Rights Commission, the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, and the Washington Bar Association. None were ever vindicated during the review process.

In 2006, Barnes was sued for defamation by City of Webster Selectman Ray Regis after claiming Regis was a cocaine dealer. The lawsuit was settled with a written apology from Barnes and a cash payment.

Urquhart has also sued Barnes for defamation. A copy of the lawsuit is attached.

As part of their investigation, the Renton Police contacted former detective Robin Cleary, who vouched for Barnes veracity. However Cleary was also fired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2014 for dishonesty during the Darion Holiwell investigation.

A second deputy, Carl Cole was also quoted in the PC Certification and also vouched for Barnes. Cole was an active member of Sheriff-elect Johanknecht’s election team, and is part of her transition group. He is also lives with Johanknecht’s campaign manager Captain Jessica Sullivan.

The decision whether to charge Urquhart will come within two to three weeks, the Seattle Times reported.

Image via Elaine Thompson/Associated Press