PORT ANGELES — A Sequim man who spent two years in prison is suing several current and former Clallam County officials, including two political candidates, for his wrongful incarceration.
Barry Schafer, whose conviction on a sex abuse case was overturned by a state appeals court in 2000, filed the suit last Thursday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Schafer, and his wife, Julie, are seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit, claiming an improper and negligent sheriff’s investigation and prosecutorial misconduct led to the unlawful conviction of Schafer.
The Schafers and their attorney, John Bagley of Van Siclen, Stocks & Firkins in Auburn, did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
Sheriff Joe Hawe and former deputy prosecuting attorney Deb Kelly are among those named in the lawsuit.
Hawe is currently running for a fourth term as Clallam County sheriff against challenger Soeren Poulsen, and Kelly is trying to unseat incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Chris Shea.
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