LANGLEY — Langley Mayor Larry Kwarsick was charged Thursday with false reporting by a public officer over allegations that he backdated an official document to benefit a relative when Kwarsick was the city’s community planning director.
The document eliminated certain permit requirements for his stepdaughter’s home, which had been built on land that contained sensitive wetlands, Island County Prosecuting Attorney Greg Banks said.
Banks alleges that Kwarsick backdated the document to make it appear as if it had been issued by his predecessor.
Kwarsick was hired as the city’s planning developer in January 2011. He became mayor a year later.
An activist brought questions about the decision to the attention of the new planning director in the spring. The City Council was advised and contacted Banks.
Island County sheriff’s detectives investigated the allegations. Kwarsick, 65, is scheduled to appear for arraignment Monday in Island County Superior Court. Banks said he expects that the case will be resolved then through a settlement agreement.
The maximum penalty for the gross misdemeanor is 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Banks’ press release explaining his charging decision is attached to this story.
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