Thursday, the Utah News Dispatch reported that Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby is under criminal investigation by the Summit County Attorney’s Office for obstruction of justice. Now Wasatch County is grappling with yet another probe into its sheriff.
Though he has not been formally charged, the investigation is exploring whether Rigby attempted to use accusations against a political opponent to influence the Kouri Richins murder case, which took place in Summit County.
The Summit County Attorney’s Office began the investigation after Rigby reportedly presented an anonymous letter to Summit County Sheriff Kacey Bates regarding allegations against Summit County Deputy Eric Mainord, who is currently running against Rigby for Wasatch County sheriff.
The Utah News Dispatch reported that Mainord filed his declaration for candidacy one day before Rigby met with Bates. Mainord was a detective working on the Richins case, where the Kamas mother was found guilty of killing her husband.
Richins was convicted of five felony charges: aggravated murder, attempted homicide, two counts of insurance fraud, and forgery.
Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau said the county has already been, and will continue to, comply with the Summit County Attorney’s Office in its investigation of Rigby.
“My understanding of the process is that the investigation is underway and Summit County has made some requests of us, which we granted. We’re cooperating with any law enforcement actions that are going on,” Grabau said.
Grabau said county officials hope there can be continued “quality services” for residents while the matter is resolved through the criminal justice system.
“This doesn’t directly involve Sheriff Rigby’s duties related to Wasatch County. These are kind of more in his personal capacity,” Grabau said.
There is not much the county can do, he said, regarding the removal of Rigby from his elected position.
“The county does not have the ability to place the sheriff on something like administrative leave that would normally be an option for a regular, appointed employee,” Grabau said. “But as an elected official, the sheriff has a greater degree of independence and autonomy that doesn’t afford the council discretion over whether to place them on leave or something like that.”
Grabau said that any time a county employee is under criminal investigation, “it’s of concern.”
“I think the reality of the situation is that only the conclusion of that process or Sheriff Rigby himself can really impact his duties as sheriff. So until he has been convicted of a crime or that (Peace Officer Standards and Training) has removed his certification, there are just not really any other options.”
In 2023, the POST council nominated Rigby to be its director before the state council rescinded that nomination by a majority 15-member vote.
The Wasatch County Council has yet to meet in an open meeting or closed session about the investigation into Rigby. County Councilor Erik Rowland said it’s likely the matter will be discussed in the near future.
“We have not talked to the council about this matter because it’s relatively new,” Grabau said. “The council hasn’t met, and we haven’t coordinated any specific response from the council.”
Grabau said that this type of situation is “not common and obviously not ideal.”
In March, Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby resigned following allegations of sexual harassment and interference in an investigation, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Though Grabau referenced the case when asked about similar instances of wrongdoing by elected officials in Utah, he said there has been no discussion so far about the possibility of the County Council calling for Rigby to resign.
The County Council acts as the governing body for the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office in matters of policy, budget and oversight. The council is also responsible for the appointment of the Sheriff’s Office Merit Commission, which governs hiring, promotions and discipline within the Sheriff’s Office.
This is not the first time the County Council has had to deal with investigations into Rigby or the Sheriff’s Office.
A 2025 investigation into alleged misconduct in the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office by retired Utah State District Judge Richard D. McKelvie found concerns within hiring and promotion, the merit system, duty and shift assignments, fear of retaliation, misuse of county resources and equipment, investigation interference and interagency relationships.
McKelvie found instances of favoritism and retaliation by Rigby himself. Both Rigby and Undersheriff Josh Probst were involved in “numerous examples” of interference in investigations by the report, including the death of Patrick Hayes, who was shot and killed near Ross Creek on Sept. 25, 2024.
The Park Record reached out to Rigby for comment but received no response by the time of publication on Friday.