Fisher’s case was charged in November in Pierce County, after the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had asked prosecutors there to try to the case to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim’s wife is on the Capital Playhouse board of directors, and his children have been involved in Playhouse programs.
The Playhouse, on Fourth Avenue in downtown Olympia, puts on plays involving children and teens and runs children’s theater and musical workshops.
A Pierce County special prosecutor is still trying Fisher’s case, but in Thurston County. The case was refiled Tuesday in Thurston at the request of Fisher’s attorney, Paul Strophy. Strophy said Thursday that he made the request because the state constitution requires criminal charges to be filed in the county where they allegedly took place.
Fisher, 52, will be arraigned Jan. 29 in Thurston County Superior Court. Strophy has said his client maintains his innocence.
The Olympia Police Department’s investigation of Fisher began in July, after police searched Fisher’s home computer in an effort to find him after he had been reported missing. Strophy has said there are “some serious constitutional issues involving the search and seizure of his computer” because police did not initially obtain a search warrant.
Police found depictions of alleged child pornography on Fisher’s computer, and subsequent searches of two computers Fisher used at the Playhouse turned up additional alleged images of child pornography, court papers state.
Fisher is out of custody.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465
jpawloski@theolympian.com
theolympian.com/thisjustin
@JeremyPawloski
