(COOPERSTOWN) – The former Griggs County Sheriff has been charged for tampering with public records in his official capacity as sheriff of the county.
According to court documents obtained Monday afternoon, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation was asked, by the Griggs County State’s Attorney’s Office, to assist in an investigation involving the former Sheriff, Michael Beaver.
According to court documents, Beaver, while the appointed sheriff of Griggs County, provided the Griggs County Commission with an altered email chain, which was a government record.
In an interview with Special Agent Matthew Hiatt, Beaver stated ‘he was scared of the backlash that would come from the e-mail being out in the public.’
Court documents also state that Beaver admitted to altering the e-mail, changing the words ‘Cooperstown area’ to ‘Griggs County.’ He admitted to converting the e-mail to a PDF before changing it.
Beaver has been charged with tampering with public records, a Class C felony. He appeared in Griggs County District Court earlier today where he was assigned a personal recognizance bond, with conditions that he not violate any laws, sign a waiver of extradition, maintain appropriate contact with his attorney and appear for all scheduled court hearings.
He’s due back in court on October 22 at 1:15 p.m. in the Griggs County Courthouse in Cooperstown.
