St. George • Washington County agreed to pay former Sheriff Nate Brooksby $100,000 in severance as part of his separation agreement after he abruptly resigned following allegations of sexual harassment and interference in an investigation, according to records obtained Thursday by The Tribune.

Just over a month ago, a sheriff deputy’s wife sent an anonymous letter to the Washington County Commission detailing allegations about former Sheriff Nate Brooksby, according to a statement from the commission on Thursday.

The letter, which The Tribune acquired under the Government Records Access and Management Act, said the former sheriff demonstrated a “lack of moral standards and ethics,” including during an out-of-town weekend trip in which Brooksby allegedly sexually harassed a deputy’s wife.

The letter also said that Brooksby interfered in an investigation into Jeff Johnson, who was a sheriff’s deputy at the time. Johnson was charged with four counts of unlawfully accessing, using, disclosing or disseminating criminal investigation records, which is a class B misdemeanor, on Nov. 17, 2025, according to court records.

The Washington County Commission forwarded the anonymous letter to the county attorney’s office, which eventually sent the letter to the Utah Attorney General’s Office, according to the commission’s statement.

“That office concluded that nothing in the letter appeared to be criminal in nature, but asked to be kept informed, and recommended that Washington County hire an outside private law firm to provide an independent investigation into ethics or policy violations,” the commission said.

County commissioners said they met with the complainants on March 27 to discuss the allegations. In addition to the letter from a deputy’s wife, the commission also received complaints orally, Courtney Sinagra, deputy county attorney, told The Tribune. The commission said it concluded there was sufficient information to justify an independent investigation.

The commissioners called Brooksby, who denied any wrongdoing, the statement said. That same day, Brooksby offered his resignation on the condition that he receive a severance payment.

“While the severance payment has been questioned by some, this situation differs significantly from a typical employment scenario,” the commission said. “Unlike a traditional employee, an elected official cannot simply be removed or ‘fired’ by any governing body — including a county commission. Elected officials are chosen by the people, and the law reflects that.”

The commission said that the allegations against Brooksby were taken seriously but not yet proven. After Brooksby resigned, the commission added, the complainants did not wish for the county to hire an outside law firm to investigate further.

The separation agreement between the county and Brooksby said the county will “refrain from any further investigation into the allegations.”

“The severance the Commission agreed to pay was less than what taxpayers would have paid in salary alone had he remained in office and the high cost of the investigation,” the commission said. “The voluntary separation agreement allowed Washington County to immediately transition leadership, protect its employees, and appoint an acting sheriff — ensuring the public continued to receive the level of service and safety they deserve.”

Undersheriff Barry Golding will serve as acting sheriff while the county commission and county Republican Party work to fill the vacant sheriff seat.