The chairman of the Uinta County Commission was arrested last week on suspicion of domestic battery, the Evanston Police chief confirmed Thursday to Cowboy State Daily.
Mark Anderson has not been charged in connection with the arrest.
Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson Kallas conflicted out of the case and asked Weston County Attorney Michael Stulken to review it instead, Stulken told Cowboy State Daily in a Thursday phone interview.
Stulken was just acquainting himself with the investigation Thursday, he said.
“I haven’t had a chance to review much of anything yet,” said Stulken. “I just talked with the Uinta County Attorney very recently. So that’s where I’m at with it.”
Unless a rolling cross-service agreement is in place between counties, county commissions decide whether to approve the appointment of special prosecutors for certain cases.
The Uinta County Commission’s next meeting is set for Tuesday.
Anderson would have to abstain from such a vote since he has a personal interest in the matter, state law says.
Anderson declined Thursday to comment.
His fellow commissioners Eric Soth and Brent Hatch also declined to comment.
Evanston Police Chief Mike Vranish said he must be terse at this point, as his department doesn’t release investigative reports before a defendant is formally charged.
“And I want to handle this like we handle every other case,” said Vranish.
Vranish confirmed the arrest happened Dec. 5, and was based on suspicion of domestic battery.
The Uinta County Sheriff's Office told Cowboy State Daily in a Thursday email that Anderson was released that same evening.
It is uncertain whether Anderson will be charged.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
