Perjury charges leveled against island man.
The attorney for Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown leveled perjury charges against James M. Olsen of Bainbridge Island this week, after Olsen failed to present any evidence that Brown did not live in the district he was elected to represent.
Silverdale attorney John Morgan, along with Democratic party activist Jim Sommerhauser, swore out a complaint against Olsen at the Port Orchard Police Department Thursday afternoon.
The move came after Olsen withdrew his challenge of Brown’s legal residency, just as the Kitsap County Canvassing Board convened to hear the matter on Thursday.
“By filing this action, Mr. Olsen indicated that he had evidence of where Josh Brown lived,” Morgan said. “He does not have this evidence, which shows a reckless disregard for the truth – which is perjury.”
Morgan said he had not consulted Brown in taking the action.
“I am doing this as a private citizen who has witnessed a crime,” he said.
It’s now up to the county prosecutor to review Morgan’s complaint for formal charging.
In January, Olsen challenged Brown’s right to vote in the Feb. 6 election. But on Thursday, he withdrew his complaint and then left the hearing.
Olsen said he he withdrew the complaint because the board, made up of Democrats who contributed to Brown’s campaign, had a conflict of interest and could not issue a fair ruling.
He said the evidence against Brown’s legal residency still exists, but he has no plans to make it public.
Olsen also said that he did not trust the press to adequately report his charges.
Olsen had requested a change of venue due to the conflict of interest but Kitsap County Auditor Karen Flynn – also a member of the canvassing board – said the law did not allow for such a venue change.
“I was curious about whatever evidence he had,” said North Kitsap Commissioner Chris Endresen, also a canvassing board member.
“Now it looks like I will never get the chance.”
Earlier this month, a visiting Superior Court judge dismissed a separate challenge against Brown’s residency, saying complainants failed to meet their burden of proof.
That challenge sought to overturn Brown’s election to the Kitsap County Commission from the central district.
