COOPERSTOWN, N.D. (KFGO) – The former sheriff of Griggs County has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of tampering with public records.
The charge comes after Michael Beaver admitted to altering a copy of an email to hide how much help he asked for from the Highway Patrol during a county fundraiser in Cooperstown earlier this year.
The County Commission accused Beaver and his deputy, who both resigned in May, of a pattern of over-zealous policing. Beaver told investigators he altered the email because he was afraid of the fallout from commissioners if they knew he asked for help for the city of Cooperstown the night of the fundraiser rather than for the entire county.
At a preliminary hearing, a prosecutor argued there was enough evidence to charge Beaver with tampering.
Beaver’s attorney says while Beaver did change a copy of the email, the original email is intact and a crime wasn’t committed.
A judge ruled there was enough evidence to move the case forward.
Beaver’s next hearing has not been scheduled.
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