By John Miller, The Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Idaho Attorney General on Monday charged former Preston Police Chief Scott Shaw with seven felonies for allegedly falsifying public records, lying about a search warrant and misusing public money.
Shaw left the police force last January after his contract wasn’t renewed.
“This prosecution is essential to uphold the otherwise excellent work of police officers throughout the state of Idaho,” said Attorney General Lawrence Wasden in a statement. “I owe it to the citizens of Idaho to seek justice in this matter.”
Magistrate Judge Ronald Hart has issued a summons for Shaw to appear in 6th District Court in Soda Springs on Dec. 15.
He’s accused of perjury, falsifying public records, misappropriating $882 meant for law-enforcement training and lying about what he did with the money.
According to the criminal complaint, Shaw lied in an application for a search warrant when he claimed he was personally contacted by confidential informants with information about a drug laboratory in Preston.
Prosecutors also accuse Shaw of claiming in a search warrant application that certain records were in a Preston residence “when, in fact, those records had previously been taken without lawful authority.”
In October, Shaw settled a wrongful termination lawsuit in U.S. District Court with the city of Preston.
In its decision not to renew Shaw’s contract, the City Council cited 10 allegations, including a female informant’s complaint that he coerced her into an “inappropriate sexual relationship.”
The Council also accused Shaw of mishandling property seized in a 2003 drug case. He was allegedly seen driving a 1978 Harley Davidson motorcycle seized from a man arrested and later convicted of selling methamphetamine.
Efforts to reach Shaw for comment Monday were not immediately successful.