PORT ANGELES – Charges will be filed this week against a former Clallam County Corrections Officer accused of sexual misconduct involving 9 female inmates.

Howard Blair will be charged with at least one felony following an investigation that began in September of last year, after an inmate reported that she had been touched inappropriately by Blair while on duty. Any such contact between a corrections deputy and an inmate is against the law, regardless of whether it is wanted or not.

Within two days, Sheriff’s Investigators found sufficient evidence to place Blair on administrative leave. Over the course of the Fall, 7 more female inmates came forward with similar stories.

By December of 2017, as a meeting approached to determine discipline based on the statements of those eight women, Blair resigned from the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Bill Benedict:

Shortly after his resignation, a ninth inmate reported to a counselor that she had sexual contact with Blair several times over a six month period.

Blair worked as a corrections deputy from April 2007 until December 2017. Prior to his resignation, he had received several commendations for his work.