Franklin County sheriff announces resignation; criminal charges still pending

Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Curry, right, appears with his attorney, Trey Pettlon, at a hearing to remove Curry from office in March. Prosecutors withdrew their petition to remove Curry after Pettlon announced that Curry had agreed to resign, effective April 1.

? Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Curry — who faces charges of interfering with police — announced Thursday that he would resign.

Curry’s resignation, announced by his attorney, came during a hearing in Franklin County District Court that was held as part of ouster proceedings against the sheriff. Curry’s resignation is effective April 1. He will remain on administrative leave until then.

Prosecutors on Thursday withdrew a motion they’d filed seeking Curry’s suspension during the ouster process. The ouster petition will be withdrawn once the resignation occurs.

Curry, along with Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerrod Fredricks, still face felony charges of interfering with police. Curry faces an additional charge of misdemeanor official misconduct. A preliminary hearing in that case is tentatively set for April 1.

Details of that criminal case remain minimal, and court records filed in the ouster petition remain sealed.

According to the criminal complaint, Curry is accused of using confidential information gained through his office for his or another person’s gain, or to cause harm to another, on May 30, 2012, and then making false statements to investigators on Sept. 27, 2012.

Fredricks, who served as public information officer for the sheriff’s office, is accused of making false statements on Oct. 5, 2012, after the investigation had been made public.

Lawyers for several media outlets appeared in court after filing petitions to unseal documents in the ouster petition. Senior Judge John Sanders set an April 1 court date to hear oral arguments regarding the sealed documents.

Fredricks is on paid leave from the sheriff’s office, according to county officials.

By Kansas law, Undersheriff Steve Lunger temporarily fills in as sheriff.