State AG won’t pursue Sauk County misconduct allegations

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state attorney general doesn’t plan to investigate possible criminal charges related to allegations of misconduct by 11 Sauk County department heads, employees and officials.

A report by Sauk County Corporation Counsel Daniel Olson was forwarded to the attorney general by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office, which declined to investigate the allegations citing a conflict of interest.

Olson’s report cited legal concerns such as violating confidentiality requirements, violating open meetings laws, misuse of public comment time by senior staff members and an unauthorized investigation of a department head by a county board member, the State Journal reported.

“The Wisconsin Department of Justice has thoroughly reviewed the allegations in your letter, and based on that review, the Department will not be pursuing a criminal investigation or prosecution at this time,” Assistant Attorney General David Maas said in a letter to Olson.

The decision by the Attorney General’s Office sends the matter back to the Sauk County sheriff.