Two Sunriver FD workers charged with reading chief’s e-mails

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel filed criminal charges Friday against a current and former employee of the Sunriver FireDepartment, accusing them of illegally accessing the emails of Fire Chief Art Hatch and other employees.

“Any access to computers is a crime,” Hummel told NewsChannel 21. “So every document they have accessed is a potential crime — but some of those documents were labor negotiations, which is especially troubling.”

Another worker also is on paid leave, officials said.

Jason Arnold, a former firefighter/paramedic and former president of the firefighters’ labor association, faces69 counts of Computer Crime, Obtaining Contents of Communication, Criminal Conspiracy, and Official Misconduct in the First Degree, Hummel said.

FormerSunriver Fire and RescueCapt. Jeff Ruthardt, a current Sunriver firefighter/paramedic, facesfour counts total, including two counts of Criminal Conspiracy, Interception of Communication, and Official Misconduct in the First Degree.

The DA said the charges arebased on an investigation bytheSunriver Police Departmentthatuncovered evidence the suspectsillegally accessed confidential emails of department employees, including the fire chief.

Sunriver police were assisted in the investigation by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Bend Police Department.

The confidential emails concerned employee matters, including among other things, labor negotiations, Hummel said.

Theincidents occurred over the course ofseveral months, beginning in January.

“The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may result,” Hummel said in a news release.

Arnoldand Ruthardt’s first court appearance is for arraignment in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 1:15 pm.

“Labor negotiations can be intense, so it’s understandable if parties lose their cool,” Hummel said. “Not all of the emails in question involved the pending labor negotiations, but some did. Crossing the line by accessing computers and email is a crime and won’t be tolerated in Deschutes County.”

Sunriver Fire Chief Art Hatch told NewsChannel 21 that Ruthardt has been placed on paid administrative leave, while Arnold was terminated recently.

Hatch also confirmed that a third department employee also is on paid leave, as was disclosed during a Sunriver Service District meeting on Thursday. He said he could not say who or provide any other details on that personnel matter.

The fire chief said he’s spent 30 years in fire service, eight in Sunriver, and “this is the first time I’ve had to deal with something of this nature.”

“I’m grateful it’s uncommon,” he said.

Hatch added, “Whatever may have been alleged to have gone on with certain individuals, that does not reflect the values of this organization, or the character of the hard-working, dedicated professionals who work in it.”