A Grant County sheriff's deputy has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of child neglect. Oregon State Police arrested Tyler Smith Sept. 9 on suspicion of those charges, as well as more serious felonies that he has not been charged with to date.
Smith has been a law enforcement officer in Grant County since 2014, which means he has worked with the local courts in that capacity. As an alleged offender, his case is still set for a Grant County judge to hear, but a district attorney from neighboring Wheeler County is prosecuting.
The criminal complaint filed Monday alleges Smith left a child under 10 years old at home alone for long enough to endanger the child. He goes before a judge to address the misdemeanor charges on Oct. 3.
He could still face charges of attempted rape and assault, as recommended by an Oregon State Police investigation.
Smith remains on paid leave from the sheriff’s office, according to the head of Grant County human resources. Smith had already been on paid leave for a month when OSP arrested him Sept. 9. Grant County officials have said the leave is not related to the charges and is related to Smith’s job performance.
Both the Grant County sheriff and Wheeler County district attorney declined comment.