Former Undersheriff Charged With Assault

Former Pend Oreille County Undersheriff Roger Henderson has been charged with assaulting the 14-year-old daughter of his live-in girlfriend.

Henderson, 54, pleaded innocent Thursday in District Court to a charge of fourth-degree domestic assault and applied for a public defender. His trial date has not been set.

Sheriff’s Inspector Ron Froman said the victim reported she repeatedly provoked Henderson and shoved him during an argument on Aug. 25. Then, she told authorities, Henderson grabbed her by the hair and choked her.

“She did have some red marks on her neck,” said Froman, who arrested Henderson despite the fact that they are friends.

Froman said the girl has since gone to Spokane to live with an older sister.

Henderson was a Pend Oreille County sheriff’s deputy for two years after retiring from 20 years in the Marine Corps, then spent five years as a Newport policeman before becoming undersheriff in 1988. Sheriff Doug Malby fired him in December 1993, and Henderson ran unsuccessfully against Malby in the 1994 Democratic primary.

, DataTimes