Ex-Sheriff’s Drug Fraudcase Dropped

Snohomish County prosecutors, crippled by a judge’s decision to suppress critical evidence, said Thursday they are dropping the drug fraud case against former sheriff Patrick Murphy.

Prosecutors decided not to appeal a ruling last month by visiting Jefferson County Superior Court Judge William Howard to suppress any remaining medical information about Murphy. That ruling effectively meant there is not enough evidence for prosecutors to proceed to trial.

Murphy was charged last October with four counts of fraudulently obtaining prescription painkillers from doctors and dentists.

Murphy had argued the charges were politically motivated.

He said he took painkillers because of pain he suffered from past injuries.

In May, Howard ruled the method used by a state Pharmacy Board investigator to obtain Murphy’s prescription records and other medical information violated Murphy’s privacy rights.

Last month, Murphy’s lawyers asked that any remaining medical information about him also be suppressed because it could not have been obtained had other information not first been obtained illegally.

Howard granted that request.