Sheriff wins private civil suit

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson was awarded a $264,000 judgment this week in a contentious civil suit against the man who bought Watson’s private security agency.

Watson sold his private security firm, The Watson Agency, to retired California police officer John Weick in 2001. A year later, Watson and his wife sued Weick and his wife after the latter reportedly stopped making payments on the $1.15 million deal.

The case had been appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court and sent back to district court for further proceedings. At one point, Weick was jailed for contempt after failing to appear for a hearing, reportedly due to a bout of diarrhea.

As they were entrenched in litigation, Weick tried to run against Watson for sheriff but was removed from the ballot after Watson challenged Weick’s residency status.

According to court documents, the Watsons and Weicks reached a settlement agreement in 2005. The Weicks agreed to pay Watson $1,000 per month through May 2006, then $2,000 per month beginning in November, according to court records.

When the Weicks missed the March 2006 payment, Watson sought to declare a default judgment against the Weicks, as agreed.

But the Weicks and Watsons reached another agreement. Weick paid Watson $100,000 and agreed to pay an additional $167,000 before Thanksgiving.

The holiday passed without payment from Weick. That’s when the Watsons filed a second motion for judgment, which 1st District Judge John Mitchell approved this week.

Weick couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. A message left at The Watson Agency wasn’t immediately returned.

Watson said he is happy there is some resolution in the case. “I would have been happier if he’d paid his bill,” he said.