Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Former Sheriff sentenced to 40 hours community service in plea agreement
DAVENPORT-Former Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of third-degree criminal assistance and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service by Garfield County District Court Judge Thomas W. Cox Wednesday, Aug. 24, concluding an 18-month saga stemming from a Feb. 2021 incident involving Magers and his son, Colton W. Magers.
Wade Magers' official sentence was 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, all of which was suspended by the presiding judge upon completion of community service in an agreed-to recommendation by the state and defense.
The court dismissed previous charges of obstructing a law enforcement officer and making a false statement to a public servant upon the state's recommendation in the plea agreement.
Magers tried to prevent his son from receiving DUI charges following a one-car crash on Feb. 11, 2021.
Franklin County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Taylor Clark represented the state and presented Cox with the state's recommendation, which came in a previous agreement with the defense.
"All (jail) time should be suspended on the condition he completes 40 hours of community service," Clark said. "We are not asking for any fines, just mandatory court costs."
After Cox read Magers his rights and statement of a guilty plea, he asked the former Sheriff how he pleaded to the charge of third-degree criminal assistance.
"Guilty," Magers replied.
Cox then said he found Magers guilty on the charge and proceeded to sentencing, asking first for the state's recommendation.
"His choices were to put his reputation above his ethical responsibilities as a law enforcement officer and an elected official," Clark said.
Clark said her office received "countless" letters of support for Magers, including some asking for all charges to be dismissed, to "go easy" on him or to consider his years of law enforcement service.
"However, it's that lengthy service as a law enforcement officer that makes this case all the more egregious," Clark said. "Mr. Magers knew more than most how his words and actions that night would impact this investigation, that his deputies would take him at his word, lied about where his son was, lied about knowing his son was in the next room, telling the deputy his son may be at one of the local hospitals...the agreed resolution has been heavily negotiated over the last several months and I think it's clear that this guilty plea carries more impact than just his plea."
Magers' defense attorney, Spokane-based Bevan Maxey, asked Cox to consider the longtime lawman's record of service when carrying out a sentence before recommending the court consider the agreed-to sentence.
"He's been a part of this community most of his life. He's dedicated that time to serving this community, and I think that's apparent from the letters you received," Maxey said. "He's dedicated himself to this community...just as importantly, he's dedicated to his family as well. The court can see that this rises out of family considerations."
"I ask the court to consider...lengthy years of service as well," Maxey added. "Needless to say, he has no criminal history."
Cox then asked a tearful Magers if he had any statement.
"I would like to apologize," Magers said. "I had my dad hat on instead of my sheriff hat on."
"That was plain through the reports and everything I've received," Cox said before saying he would agree to the sentencing recommendation.
Cox then gave his statement to Magers, which will be printed in its entirety in tomorrow's paper. He told Magers he needed to complete his 40 hours of community service in 90 days, but the defense asked for that to be increased to a year, which the court agreed to.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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