Snohomish to take ex-official's sex case

A Snohomish County prosecutor will handle any criminal charges filed against a well-known local political operative arrested this week during an Internet police sting for allegedly trying to arrange sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Seattle police said Larry Corrigan, who was the financial director of the King County Prosecutor's Office until last year, used Internet chat rooms to solicit sex from an officer posing as a 13-year-old girl.

The 54-year-old Seattle man was arrested Wednesday and booked into King County Jail for investigation of attempted child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Because of the possible conflict of interest in bringing charges against a former employee, the King County Prosecutor's Office originally asked that the state Attorney General's Office handle the case.

But attorney general spokeswoman Janelle Guthrie said Snohomish was later asked to take over because several state prosecutors had worked with Corrigan in King County.

"While there is no legal bar to us taking the case, we just didn't want there to be any suggestion of a conflict," she said.

Corrigan was the King County prosecutor's director of operations and budget for 25 years and a close friend and the driver of Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng, several prosecutors said. Maleng could not be reached Friday at his home or office for comment.

Corrigan was active in the election campaigns of numerous local officials including Maleng, U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, former City Attorney Mark Sidran and judges Mary Yu, Bobbe Bridge and Faith Ireland.

Seattle police said Corrigan used two America Online screen names to chat with an undercover officer in the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Police said Corrigan asked the girl to meet him and perform a particular sex act and bragged that he'd had sex with another teen.

Police also allege that Corrigan sent the fictitious girl pornography and arranged to meet her at a video store on Capitol Hill Wednesday, where police arrested him.

Corrigan, who was released on his own recognizance, could not be reached for comment.

His attorney, John Wolfe, said he and his client will decide how to proceed when, and if, charges are filed.

"Once we have been provided with the investigative reports, we will review them and decide how to proceed," Wolfe said.

Spokesmen from the King County Prosecutor's Office and from Reichert's campaign said Thursday they were "shocked" by news of Corrigan's arrest.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times staff reporters Ralph Thomas and Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report.