SUBLETTE COUNTY — In a statement released to the media, Sublette County Sheriff Stephen Haskell addresses an investigation initiated after ‘criminal wrongdoing’ was alleged by county officials

The full text of the release follows:

Media inquiries were made at the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, November 5, regarding the adoption of a resolution that was passed by the Sublette County Commission appointing a special prosecutor to whom investigating special agents of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation would report.

Sheriff Stephen Haskell was interviewed in the fall in Pinedale by DCI investigators.

The interview covered two subjects: the National Sheriff’s Association conference in Baltimore, Maryland, June 26 to July 1, which he attended, and the timing of his purchase of new uniforms for the Sheriff’s Office, a bulletproof vest, rank insignia, and new department policy books obtained for distribution to agency personnel.

Prior to Haskell’s trip to Maryland, he met with the Board of County Commissioners and discussed with them the means of his transportation to the conference. The Commission recommended that he determine the cost of flying versus driving and agreed they would reimburse the lesser amount. Haskell later submitted his travel reimbursement request for the conference, which totaled $1,595.07. Though Sublette County Clerk Mary Lankford called the reimbursement into question, the Commission authorized its payment.

At a Sublette County Commission meeting on February 7, 2015, the Commission reviewed payment vouchers for Sheriff’s Office uniforms, a bulletproof vest, rank insignia, and new department policy books. A number of these vouchers were dated prior to January 5, 2015 – the day Sheriff Haskell was sworn in and officially assumed office – and the Commission asked Sheriff Haskell to pay them personally, as, at time the purchases were made, he was only Sheriff-elect. Haskell accepted his responsibility for the mistake, and paid the vouchers with nearly $3,000 out of his own pocket.

Commission Chairman Andy Nelson and Commissioner Joel Bouseman each made statements, clarifying that they could clearly see there was no criminal intent concerning these orders, which were placed for law enforcement equipment and supplies destined for distribution to Sheriff’s Office personnel; their concern was that Haskell had placed the orders before being sworn in, which caused them hesitation in paying for the items.

Haskell said the DCI interview, which lasted less then an hour, took place in mid-September. “When I called the DCI office to inquire about the basis for the investigation, I was told I had been accused of ‘criminal wrongdoing’ by other county officials.”

About two weeks before the interview, on August 28, Haskell had filed a Writ of Mandamus in Sublette County District Court against Sublette County Clerk Mary Lankford. The writ charges that Lankford, the wife of former Sublette County Sheriff Dave Lankford, “is seeking by her actions to assume the role of administering the Sheriff’s Office” and asks the court to mitigate the situation.

“As I said at the time, filing that writ against Mrs. Lankford was a difficult thing to commit to, but I felt like I had no choice,” Haskell said.

Haskell said he is looking forward to the Natrona County Attorney’s review of the situation and a public announcement of their findings.

“‘Criminal wrongdoing’ is some pretty strong language, and I am anxious to see my name cleared as soon as possible. It is and always will be my hope and goal that we in Sublette County government can all move forward and work as a team to produce the highest level of service to our community.”