Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
PRESTON — A 36-year-old former chief deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has been charged with allegedly falsifying timesheets. Joshua B. Purser faces a misdemeanor charge following an investigation by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, the Idaho AG’s Office was referred to the allegations by Franklin County Prosecutor Vic Pearson in September, due to a potential conflict of interest.
The state investigator was notified of alleged timesheet fraud involving the sheriff’s office’s boat inspection station. Purser had reportedly signed up to work overtime inspecting watercraft for invasive species, but had not been working.
The probable cause statement explained that because it was overtime hours, Purser was being paid a rate of time-and-a-half, $45.61 an hour.
One deputy told the investigator that they questioned Purser’s reported hours, based on when he would sign on- and off-duty and when his patrol vehicle was parked at his home.
According to Purser’s timesheet, he had been working his normal 10-hour shift, then an additional five hours at the boat check station.
The affidavit stated the deputy called it “common knowledge” that Purser would be at home during his shift, beginning before Purser was made chief deputy. It caused one deputy to quit the sheriff’s office.
Purser spoke to the investigator and allegedly acknowledged the policy that deputies were required to sign in and out of duty through dispatch. However, he claimed, he did not always sign in. He told the investigator that he would occasionally drive around “making sure his deputies were working after they signed into duty,” the affidavit says.
Additionally, Purser told the investigator that he would not always sign out of duty through dispatch after completing a shift at the boat check station, the affidavit says.
In total, the investigator determined that around $7,886.29 was paid to Purser for hours that were not worked.
According to court records, Purser is scheduled for a change of plea hearing, April 18, when he is expected to plead guilty. He could face up to one year in jail.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.