HURRICANE — A fifth Washington County sheriff's deputy has resigned amid a growing sex scandal here at the Purgatory Jail that has led to a series of criminal investigations.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office confirmed the resignation Tuesday, declining to release the name of the sheriff's deputy involved.
Deputies said the name of the fifth officer came up in an internal-affairs investigation into the jailhouse sex scandal that began more than a month ago.
"It's been turned over to the Hurricane police to see if criminal charges will be looked into," said Washington County sheriff's Chief Deputy Rob Tersigni.
The Hurricane Police Department said it was conducting a new criminal investigation into the deputy's actions. Assistant Chief Shayne Copeland's office would only say the investigation is ongoing and they are still questioning people.
Five deputies have resigned over accusations of sexual conduct and inappropriate relationships with female inmates, as well as allegations of gift-giving and preferential treatment.
Investigators have said some of the deputies involved in inappropriate relationships gave the female inmates greater freedoms, including being allowed out of lockdown more frequently. Copeland said earlier this month that some deputies also gave the inmates gifts: "candy, burned CDs, jewelry."
So far, only two deputies — Sgt. Charles Mrkvicka, 57, and deputy Brian Stubbs, 31 — have been publicly identified by Hurricane police. Investigators said Mrkvicka and Stubbs were allegedly involved in consensual sexual relationships with "two and possibly more" inmates while the women were at the jail.
The cases investigated by Hurricane and St. George police have been turned over to the Beaver County Attorney's Office to screen for possible criminal charges. Reached at his office late Tuesday, Beaver County Attorney Von Christiansen said he still has not decided whether to pursue criminal charges against the deputies.
The Washington County sheriff's internal investigation into the sexual misconduct was continuing Tuesday, Tersigni said. "We're still trying to wrap it up," he said.
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