Jefferson County sheriff asks board to reimburse $40,000 in legal fees; supervisors vote to contact insurer and table decision

Jefferson County Sheriff Bart Richmond told the Board of Supervisors on March 10 that he spent “more than $40,000” on attorney fees after being placed on a Brady/Giglio disclosure list and asked the board to reimburse that expense so he could continue to perform his elected duties.

Richmond said a district court ordered his removal from the Brady/Giglio list and that he incurred legal costs to defend what he called “false accusations.” He asked supervisors to consider covering his attorney fees, citing guidance in the ISAC supervisors’ manual and case law that, he said, allows a county to settle certain claims or appropriate funds in limited circumstances.

Board legal counsel and the county attorney’s office cautioned supervisors that state law and precedent restrict reimbursement of private attorney fees. Counsel pointed to statutory limits discussed in a memo to the board and said prior rulings have denied awards of attorney fees when the claimant was not defending a criminal charge or acting in a strictly official capacity. One board member cited Iowa Code language (as read at the meeting) and an ISAC manual passage noting the board may compromise tort claims under certain code sections but that routine reimbursement for a private civil petition is not clearly authorized.

Supervisors split between sympathy for Richmond’s personal and professional hardship and concern about the legal and fiscal risks of reimbursing private legal bills. Supporters said reimbursing would help maintain the sheriff’s ability to serve and could be practical if the county’s insurer (ICAP/ISAC) could cover most costs; others warned that paying could create a precedent obligating future boards to pay for similar matters and could expose taxpayers to escalating liability.

After an extended public-comment period — during which several residents urged the board to help Richmond, and others asked both parties to de-escalate — the board voted unanimously to contact ICAP for guidance and to table any reimbursement decision until the board has that verification and a clearer accounting of potential costs. The board instructed staff to place the matter on the March 24 agenda for follow-up.

Votes at a glance - Motion to contact ICAP and table the reimbursement decision: passed (voice vote). - Motion to make a part-time paramedic full time: passed (voice vote). - Motion to temporarily increase the ambulance service credit-card limit to $2,500 for accreditation expenses: passed (voice vote). - Routine claims/payments (~$80,100.68) approved: passed (voice vote).

What’s next The board asked staff to contact ICAP and return with verification of whether the insurer can participate and with hard numbers for any outstanding legal costs. Supervisors said they want confirmation of legal authority and funding sources before taking further action. Richmond told the board he has filed a notice of appeal in his case, which could raise additional costs.

At the end of the meeting the chair urged a cessation of hostilities between county officials and said the board hopes the parties will work toward a resolution outside repeated public meetings.