Resident urges Yakima County prosecutor to recuse, alleges willful deletion of public records

Kenton Gartrell of Yakima called for the Yakima County prosecuting attorney to recuse and resign during public comment at the Board of Yakima County Commissioners' April 1 weekly agenda meeting, alleging that the prosecutor destroyed public records and that the county faces roughly $120,000 in costs as a result.

"I believe the... Yakima County Prosecutor should recuse himself and resign from his elected office effective immediately or within the next 6 months," Gartrell said, adding he had emailed the board the previous week. Gartrell also said the deletion of public records could be criminal: "The willful deletion of public records by any government official or staff or elected officer is actually a class felony in the state of Washington, and he should immediately resign and face bar license."

Gartrell attributed the $120,000 figure to county impacts arising from the alleged deletion. His remarks were delivered during the meeting's virtual public comment period; commissioners did not record a substantive response beyond acknowledging his comment and moving on to the next item. No county staff announced an investigation or formal action in response during the meeting.

The allegation references Washington public-records law (RCW) as the legal standard; the transcript records the claimant's assertion but does not specify the exact RCW citation or whether the county has made findings. The county did not provide supporting documentation or a formal statement at the meeting; the board took no immediate action on the allegation.