A letter sent by Henry County Attorney Darin Stater, to the Board of Supervisors, and KILJ, reveals sharp disagreement with Sheriff Rich McNamee’s request for outside legal counsel in connection with an ongoing state administrative case involving former Deputy Arturo Perez.
The request, discussed at the Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday morning, stems from Sheriff McNamee’s concerns about testifying in a disciplinary hearing overseen by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). However, Stater argues that there is no legal basis for hiring external counsel at the county’s expense.
The situation became complicated during April 10 depositions, when Sheriff McNamee reportedly told state prosecutors he did not feel comfortable proceeding without “his attorney.” That prompted both state and defense attorneys to agree to pause the proceedings.
Following the incident, Stater said he spoke with Assistant Attorney General Lynn Hardisty, who confirmed she did not advise McNamee to seek counsel. Hardisty later offered to meet with the Sheriff to answer any questions about the process—an offer that, as of Thursday, McNamee had not accepted.
Stater said he met with both McNamee and Bell on April 18 to discuss the case and the deposition process. He also confirmed in a May 9 email that he would personally attend future depositions to ensure adherence to Iowa legal standards.
In light of the facts, Stater urged the Board of Supervisors to deny the Sheriff’s request for outside legal representation.
“Considering that neither the County nor the Sheriff are parties to this action, and there are two public attorneys attending to the Sheriff in this matter, I strongly advise you to deny Sheriff McNamee’s request,” Stater concluded.
It remains unclear how the Board will proceed. A decision could come at a future meeting or following consultation with legal counsel.
KILJ News will continue to monitor this story as it develops.