Former sheriff's deputy pleads not guilty to drug, theft charges

SEATTLE -- Former King County sheriff's deputy Mitchell Wright pleaded not guilty Thursday to drug and theft charges.

His bail was reduced from $250,000 to $25,000.

Prosecutors accuse Wright, 33, of stealing between $36,000 and $52,000 worth of heroin and other narcotics during undercover operations between 2009 and February 2013. According to court documents, most of those drugs were never recovered.

Wright was placed on administrative leave from the King County Sheriff’s Office on July 3 after a Bothell police officer found drugs in a truck registered to Wright.  Wright resigned from his position as a King County deputy six days later.

Wright was already being investigated for unauthorized use of federal crime databases.

The same court records reveal that deputies discovered three small plastic bags containing a powder-like substance when they searched the patrol car assigned to Wright on July 20. The substance was later identified as heroin.

Additionally, Wright is accused of not submitting drugs associated with DEA cases into evidence.