Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby is stepping away from daily duties on paid administrative leave as he faces criminal charges stemming from an investigation connected to the Kouri Richins murder prosecution.

The Wasatch County Council unanimously approved the leave arrangement Wednesday, Oct. 21, and abandoned a proposed resolution urging Rigby to resign, according to a Park Record report.

Rigby will remain on the county payroll through the end of his term. Undersheriff Josh Probst is expected to oversee the sheriff's office until the next sheriff takes office Jan. 4, 2027, the Park Record reported.

Leave replaces proposed resignation request

Rigby notified county officials of his decision in a letter dated Oct. 20, ahead of the council's scheduled consideration of Resolution 26-13.

In the letter, Rigby said he wanted the sheriff's office to concentrate on serving residents rather than his pending criminal case. He also said he intended to cooperate with the county during the transition.

Council Chair Erik Rowland told KPCW before the meeting that Rigby's decision made the resignation resolution moot.

The council's published agenda confirms that the resignation proposal was scheduled for consideration. The later Park Record account reports that council members instead approved Rigby's voluntary leave unanimously.

The council could request Rigby's resignation but could not directly remove him from his elected position, according to the reporting surrounding the proposal.

Criminal charges restricted sheriff's access

Rigby was indicted Sept. 24 on a second-degree felony count of obstruction of justice in a criminal proceeding and a class B misdemeanor count of making a written false statement. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege Rigby sent an anonymous letter containing allegations about Summit County Detective Eric Mainord, who was involved in the Kouri Richins investigation and had also been a political opponent of Rigby.

The charges remain allegations, and Rigby is presumed innocent.

The county's proposed resignation resolution described operational problems following the indictment.

According to the document, the Utah Department of Public Safety disabled Rigby's access to the Utah Criminal Justice Information System on Oct. 8 because of the pending felony charge.

The resolution said Rigby would need an escort in areas where restricted criminal justice information could be accessed. County officials expressed concern that those restrictions would complicate supervision of the department and routine law enforcement work.

The proposal also said Rigby had declined earlier suggestions to work remotely or resign in exchange for compensation he otherwise would have received through the remainder of his term.

Those concerns were documented in the county meeting materials and independently described by Utah News Dispatch.

Judge-disqualification motion pending

The administrative change comes as Rigby's defense challenges the judge assigned to his criminal case.

Defense attorney Blake Hamilton has asked that Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik be disqualified because of his involvement in proceedings related to the Richins case.

The motion does not accuse Mrazik of actual bias. Instead, Hamilton argues that the judge may have personal knowledge of disputed facts concerning the anonymous letter, potentially making him a witness.

The Park Record reported that the disqualification request will be referred to another judge for review.

A hearing had been scheduled for Nov. 4 concerning redactions in the indictment. The pending disqualification question could affect further proceedings.

Rigby lost the June Republican primary to Jeremy Hales, Wasatch County's emergency manager. The sheriff's current term ends when the newly elected sheriff takes office in January.