Wasatch County’s embattled sheriff has sent a letter to county officials saying he will take paid, voluntary leave after he was indicted on a felony charge earlier this month.

Sheriff Jared Rigby’s Tuesday decision came after pressure from the county officials, who planned to issue a formal call asking for his resignation at a county council meeting on Wednesday.

Rigby has pleaded not guilty to a felony obstruction of justice charge and a misdemeanor count of making a false statement. Prosecutors allege he interfered with the prosecution of Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband in March.

“My position on the charges has not changed and I will address them in court,” Rigby said in the letter. “The work of protecting this community deserves the county’s full attention and I do not want my case to distract from it. I believe voluntary administrative leave offers a measured path forward, with stability and continuity for the office.”

Because of the felony charge he faces, Rigby lost access to a critical private statewide law enforcement database and faces other restrictions that would make it “difficult” for him to do his job, according to the county council’s proposed resolution.

Rigby lost his reelection bid during the Republican primaries, and his term ends in January. County officials said in their proposed resolution that they had offered to pay Rigby the remainder of his salary and benefits if he would resign from office, but he refused.

In his Tuesday letter, Rigby wrote that he felt it was in the best interest of the sheriff’s office and county residents that he step back from day-to-day duties.

The indictment against Rigby has so far been redacted and blocked from public view. Third District Judge Richard Mrazik has set a court hearing for Nov. 4 to consider whether details in the charging document can be made public.

According to KPCW, the obstruction-of-justice investigation centered around an anonymous letter that prosecutors in Richins’ case received weeks before she went to trial on aggravated murder and other charges. The letter contained allegations related to the lead detective on the case, Eric Mainord.

A motion filed by Rigby’s attorney indicates that the charges accuse Rigby of sending the anonymous letter, which allegedly contained false information.

Mainord had filed to run against Rigby in the Republican primary for the sheriff’s job — though he dropped out of the race in May. Rigby ultimately lost in the June primary to Jeremy Hales, the Wasatch County emergency manager.