Sheriff Magers' certification revoked

DAVENPORT - A former Lincoln County Sheriff is no longer be eligible to serve as a peace officer in Washington.

A state commission revoked former Sheriff Wade Magers' law enforcement certification during a June 21 hearing in which Magers did not dispute the action.

The decision came after the Criminal Justice Training Commission found Magers in default, records show.

Magers did not contest the decision or defend against the statement of charges and failed to respond within the time provided by law.

The action concludes a year-long revocation process.

On March 22, 2022, Assistant Director Chad Arceneaux issued a statement of charges seeking to revoke Magers' peace officer certification based on disqualifying conduct, state records show.

Magers had the opportunity to file petitions for his certification reinstated; however, the deadline is within 10 days from mailing the official order.

The referenced conduct related to interference in the criminal prosecution of his son in an alleged drunken driving incident, records show.

On Aug. 24, 2022, Magers pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of third-degree criminal assistance and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service by visiting Garfield County District Court Judge Thomas W. Cox.

His guilty plea concluded an 18-month saga stemming from a February 2021 incident involving Magers and his son, Colton W. Magers.

Magers tried to prevent his son from receiving driving while under the influence charges following a one-car crash Feb. 11, 2021.

Records show Colton Magers, then 24, flipped his vehicle and called his brother, who picked him up before law enforcement arrived, records show. At 1:42 a.m., Colton Magers then contacted emergency dispatch to say he swerved to miss a deer and crashed.

A deputy investigating the crash determined the vehicle did not swerve, but did not find any evidence of drunken driving, records show, noting he was unable to contact Colton Magers until two days later, on Feb. 13.

During an interview, Colton Magers denied using alcohol or drugs the night of the crash, records show. But his girlfriend contacted then Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Gabe Gants to report the sheriff was preventing his son from seeking medical treatment until his blood-alcohol level was 0.

Magers' official sentence was 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, all of which were suspended by the presiding judge upon completion of community service in an agreed-to recommendation by the state and defense.