Franklin County Officials Under Investigation | Columbia Basin

PASCO – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has announced it is conducting criminal investigations into several elected officials in the county. The investigation, sparked by complaints from County Administrator Mike Gonzalez and findings from the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office, focuses on alleged serious violations by Commissioner Rocky Mullen, Comptroller Matt Beaton and an unnamed third official.

The charges against the officers include tampering with a witness, official misconduct, criminal conspiracy, making a false or misleading statement to a public official and intimidation of a public official. These allegations are outlined in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and represent a troubling moment for county governance.

Two search warrants were issued by Franklin County Superior Court as part of the investigation. Originally sealed to protect the integrity of the investigation, the seals on these warrants have now expired, making the documents available for public review. The details of the search warrants, including details of the alleged criminal activity and the evidence sought, can now be reviewed.

According to the Tri City HeraldAt the heart of the issue is Franklin County’s refusal to pay Simmons Venue Management (SVM) to manage the HAPO Center last month during the transition to Harris White Leasure. SVM, owned by the Simmons family, is known for its restaurant and catering service CG Public House. Harris White Leasure was selected as the new contractor for the HAPO Center in August 2023 and both companies worked together during the transition, including hiring and contract approval. The Simmons company presented its final accounts at the end of the year. County Administrator Mike Gonzalez received approval from two of the three commissioners for a $12,500 payment, but Commissioner Beaton later convinced them to withhold the payment and directed Harris White Leasure to proceed with the payment to potentially incriminate Gonzalez .

The newspaper reported that the HAPO Center’s payments are processed through Harris White Leasure before the county reimburses them. Normally, Gonzalez would ask Harris White Leasure whether the county would cover the cost, since it has the authority under the HAPO Center contract to approve amounts less than $25,000. Refusal to pay the bill led to a series of events that included false accusations, political maneuvering, and criminal investigations into potential criminal activity. These actions culminated in several legal actions and raised questions about the handling of contracts and political behavior within the Franklin County government.

The Tri-City Herald also reported that County Commissioner Clint Didier received a cease-and-desist letter accusing him of trying to get Whitney Conner, the wife of the lead investigator in the Mullen and Beaton case, fired. Documents show no action was taken against Conner. The April 30 letter alleges Didier pressured her superiors about firing her in retaliation against her husband, sheriff’s commander Marcus Conner. Conner’s attorney claims Didier’s actions were in response to the sheriff’s office’s investigation. The county’s legal counsel has warned commissioners and the county administrator to keep all related communications confidential and avoid contact with her.