Lawyer for Former Chief Deputy Says Sheriff Dan Staton Is Lying About Details of Car Purchase

Sheriff Dan Staton's attempts to explain his purchase last year of a fully loaded Dodge Charger just a year after he purchased a less luxurious model are not going well.

After WW published a story about the purchase earlier this week, Staton sat down for an interview with WW's news partner, KATU.

In that interview, Staton acknowledged he shouldn't have bought the car and pledged to give it to a subordinate.

In his interview with KATU reporter Hillary Lake, Staton blamed the improper purchase on his "finance director at the time," former Chief Deputy Linda Yankee.

"I should have been a little bit more on the ball, and I should have looked at what we were purchasing," Staton told Lake. "I put a little too much faith in the process."

But in a letter sent today to Staton's attorney and Multnomah County officials, which WW obtained through a public records request, Yankee's attorney, Sean Riddell, says Staton lied to KATU.

"During the interview, Sheriff Staton admits that the purchase of the Dodge Charger was unnecessary and not in accordance with county purchasing regulations. He goes on to state that he should have paid more attention to the process and that he, mistakenly, relied on the advice or judgment of the Sheriff's Office Financial Director [Chief Deputy Yankee]," Riddell writes. "We have witnesses, emails and other documentation that support the assertion that Sheriff Staton requested the purchase of the Dodge Charger, specifically requested luxury features, knew the purchase was against county policy and directed his subordinates to purchase the vehicle over the objections of the county fleet manager. Sheriff Staton's cavalier relationship with the truth is disturbing."

Riddell's letter could have consequences for Staton. In February, after Yankee filed a tort claim notice accusing him of sexual harassment, bullying, belittling employees and other elected officials, and committing other offenses, Staton agreed to a settlement that will cost his agency about $300,000.

As part of the settlement, both parties signed a non-disparagement agreement, which in effect meant that Staton and Yankee couldn't talk negatively about each other.

Now, Riddell alleges, Staton may have violated the agreement.

"Sheriff Staton's assertions on camera," Riddell writes, "are false and meant to defame, belittle and malign my client."

Staton says he's done nothing to disparage Yankee, or his former assistant, ex-Lt. Brett Ritchie, who was also involved in the purchase and earlier also filed a tort claim notice against Staton.

"Nothing disparaging about either party [Yankee or Ritchie] was said," Staton told WW in a statement. "I took full responsibility for the purchase. It is a matter of public record regarding the positions they were in."

Willamette Week