By Jim Haley
Herald Writer
Investigators are seeking the identity of the person responsible for making an e-mail threat against Snohomish County Council member John Koster and Sheriff Rick Bart, apparently as revenge for a drug investigation.
Somebody sent an e-mail to Koster on April 12 threatening to make public his and Bart’s personal financial information.
The case is still under investigation, Bart said, and no arrests have been made. Intimidating a public servant is a felony.
"We have no idea who sent it," Bart said Friday.
The e-mail was sent with the header "pantiesoffire@ziplip.com," with the subject: "Koster — your financial privacy."
"That was a creepy feeling," Koster said Friday.
Sheriff’s detectives did a domain search and found the registrant for ziplip.com in Mountain View, Calif. A search warrant for that location failed to produce firm clues, Bart said.
The search warrant affidavit, which was filed in court this week, said "it appears some or all of the subscriber information may be false or forged."
The e-mail that Koster received referred to a narcotics investigation conducted several weeks ago by the sheriff’s office. Detectives served a search warrant at a home and discovered about two dozen marijuana plants.
The occupant of the home was charged with a misdemeanor crime in Everett District Court, but the charge was later dismissed at the prosecution’s request because of problems related to the search warrant, Bart said.
The person at the residence claimed the marijuana was used for medicinal purposes and therefore was allowed under the law.
"The law just says you can possess (marijuana for medical purposes). It doesn’t say you can grow it," Bart said.
But the threatening e-mail implied the home’s occupant was abused and his property was destroyed, according to court papers.
The sender wrote: "Mr. Koster, you and R.R. Bart have lost ALL of your financial privacy for life. … For you, security and privacy in all of your identifying numbers and information is gone, the information will forever be kept current and shared with anyone who wants it forever. Isn’t that funny, servant?"
The sender also said other county council members would lose their privacy if Koster or Bart continue to try and prosecute the subject of the drug investigation, papers said.
Bart said he’s not worried about someone actually getting and disseminating their personal financial information. But Koster said the experience should make him even more careful about his personal information.
"There are all kinds of nuts out there," Koster said.
You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447
or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.
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