EVERETT — A former Everett police officer must spend 10 days in jail, followed by community service and six years essentially on probation, for stalking his ex-girlfriend, a judge ruled Tuesday.
A Snohomish County Superior Court jury found Jared Corson, 37, of Kirkland, guilty last month of stalking, official misconduct and intercepting private communication. He was acquitted of the charge of perjury.
The former officer was charged last year with using a tracking device on a car belonging to his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, then lying about it in a sworn deposition when the woman applied for a protection order.
Victim statements written by the ex-girlfriend and the boyfriend were presented to Judge Bruce Weiss for consideration before the sentencing hearing Tuesday.
“I will never be the same person that I was before,” the woman wrote. “… I feel scared of being alone now, but I feel like alone is all I have been since this happened. I have fallen into depression and now suffer from anxiety more than ever.”
Under state guidelines, Corson faced up to a year of jail time for each of the three crimes he was convicted of — all gross misdemeanors.
Deputy prosecutor Michael Boska asked the judge to impose a sentence of 60 days in jail, followed by community service. The prosecutor said the fact that Corson was a police officer at the time he committed his crimes was an aggravating factor.
“Laws in society are only recognized as legitimate and valid if that society sees that everybody is held to the same standards and held accountable,” Boska said in court Tuesday. “… Mr. Corson used the access he had as a law enforcement officer to commit those crimes.”
Defense attorney Karen Halverson asked the judge to impose a sentence of community service, but no time behind bars.
In her sentencing memorandum, Halverson wrote that Corson is the lone financial provider for his wife and their two young children. The former officer now works in construction.
“Jared’s actions have left his family indigent, deeply in debt, and living paycheck to paycheck,” the memorandum reads.
The defendant, a third-generation cop, lost the career he dreamed of, as well as all of his friendships in law enforcement, Halverson wrote.
Corson, who served five years with the Everett Police Department, was placed on leave in December 2020 amid an internal investigation. He resigned months later. He had no felony record.
The former officer was a victim of an assault while on duty in 2019. A man undergoing a mental health crisis tried to run Corson over with his car. His defense attorney wrote the “terrifying” incident explains, in part, why Corson acted as he did.
“He should have immediately sought help to process what he had experienced but shaking off these types of events is often a part of the culture of law enforcement,” his attorney wrote. “Jared did not want to seem weak or as if he was unable to handle what had happened to him. It was simply part of the job as a cop.”
Judge Weiss ordered Corson to serve 10 days in jail, 30 days engaged in community service and 50 days on work release from jail. If he gets in trouble with the law at any point in the next six years, Corson could face up to two years behind bars.
When delivering his sentence, Weiss said Corson’s actions hurt his wife and family.
Corson cried as he addressed the courtroom Tuesday.
“I want to apologize to all my brothers and sisters who wear the uniform and badge and do their best to uphold the law and serve and protect others,” he said. “I love this profession, what it stands for and the selfless people who choose to dedicate their lives to it.”
Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; edennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen.
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