Prosecutor files motion against ex-coroner

EPHRATA - The Grant County prosecutor filed a motion to stop former coroner Jerry Jasman from signing death certificates.

Prosecutor Angus Lee through the prosecutor's office filed a civil suit in Grant County Superior Court, claiming Jasman is acting as a deputy coroner when he signs death certificates in cases of unnatural or unlawful death.

Jasman reportedly is prevented from being a deputy coroner by a 2009 plea agreement, according to court records.

Coroner Craig Morrison denies the allegations, saying Jasman has the authority to sign death certificates. He believes the suit is politically motivated, and accused Lee of harassing him since he took office in 2011.

Lee responded, saying the prosecutor's office has tried to work with Morrison during the past year to find a "legal authority that would show Jasman is allowed to sign death certificates while serving as an investigator, as opposed to a deputy coroner, we have found no such legal authority, and no written legal authority has been provided to this office from any source." 

The case starts with Jasman's 2009 plea to disorderly conduct. Jasman, then the coroner, trapped his chief deputy, Lynette Hanson, in his truck, while he drove down Wheeler Road, according to court records. The two were arguing, when he became angry and started yelling at her while driving between 65 and 70 mph.

As part of the sentence, Jasman "acknowledged forfeiture of his right to hold public office," according to court records. He left the office and was replaced by Dave Matney.

Morrison ran against Matney in the November 2010 election, and won. After he took office, he appointed Jasman as his chief investigator, according to court records.

Morrison decided to hire Jasman after taking the position, saying he didn't want to make any decisions about who he would appoint before getting elected.

"It would be like going for the extra point before you got the touchdown," he said. "Jerry needs to be in that office. He's more than qualified ... He's an awesome employee."

Part of Morrison's duty as coroner is to sign death certificates in cases of unlawful or unnatural death, according to state law.

Civil Deputy Prosecutor Lee Pence argued both the coroner and deputy coroner positions are public offices, and only a deputy coroner can fill in for a coroner.

Jasman signed death certificates in at least one murder case and other suicides, including the death certificate for Joaquin O. Serrano, according to court files. Serrano was reportedly shot and killed by Gilberto Valdovinos Medina, 23, Moses Lake. Valdovinos is presently charged with first degree murder in Grant County Superior Court.

Lee stated Jasman signing the death certificates makes them invalid, and inadmissible in court, meaning his office can't use them to prove the cause of death.

"Mr. Jasman's signing of death certificates negatively impacts the most serious cases this office prosecutes," Lee stated. "The simple solution to this problem is for the coroner to sign death certificates on cases Mr. Jasman investigates."

The prosecutor's office reportedly consulted with a Washington Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners board member, two coroners, three prosecutors and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys about the issue, Lee stated.

"All parties this office has consulted with have agreed that an investigator does not have legal authority to sign death certificates unless he has been formally deputized by the coroner," he stated.

Lee reported trying to solve the problem informally, but after a year and a half, Jasman hasn't stopped signing death certificates.

"Nothing in this legal action says that Mr. Jasman's recent criminal convictions bar him from being employed as an investigator for the coroner's office," he stated. "What this legal action says is that Jasman must stop unlawfully signing death certificates, nothing more."

Morrison believes Jasman is legally allowed to sign death certificates, he said.

"I made sure my ducks were in a row," he said. "He has authorization from my office to sign death certificates."

Jasman declined to comment for this article.