PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has determined that no charges will be filed against Clallam County District Court Judge Rick Porter after a Port Angeles woman said he moved an opponent’s campaign sign earlier this month.
Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez said Saturday that Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Rosekrans told him that prosecutors will file no charges.
“It was turned over to the prosecutor. The prosecutor reviewed it, and the prosecuting attorney’s office determined they would not be charging,” Hernandez said Saturday.
Porter, who faces two challengers in the Aug. 17 primary as he seeks a third term as judge of District Court 1, was accused of moving a campaign sign of one of his challengers, Tim Davis, from the side of a Port Angeles street.
He admitted to picking it up the bent sign, but he said he did so merely to straighten it as an act of courtesy.
Anna Shimko said that on July 6, Porter moved the Davis campaign sign from the city right of way in front of her house and placed it next to a hedge in her front yard.
Porter said he couldn’t recall if he moved the sign from its original location.
He said Saturday that he was glad to put the issue behind him, and suggested that the complaint was politically motivated.
“This was part of an orchestrated smear campaign,” Porter said, “and I’m glad that it has finally been put to rest.
“And now we can move on and talk about substantive issues.”
In response to Porter’s comment about the complaint being part of a smear campaign, Davis said he had nothing to do with the call to police.
“That’s insane,” he said.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the allegation after it was forwarded from the Port Angeles Police Department, which received the initial complaint.
Port Angeles police forwarded the complaint to avoid a conflict of interest, said Police Chief Terry Gallagher.
Hernandez said Rosekrans “had reviewed the law, and when he interpreted the law, he felt that the charges didn’t meet the criteria.”
Port Angeles attorney Pam Lindquist also is running against Porter.
