Ex-King County deputy sentenced to prison

SEATTLE – A King County judge didn’t mince words after former King County sheriff’s Deputy Darrion Keith Holiwell admitted in court Monday that he helped his wife work as a prostitute, stole from the department and delivered drugs.

“It is difficult for the court to comprehend how somebody who swore to protect the public and to uphold the law could engage in these serious crimes,” Superior Court Judge Bruce Heller said.

“You are a disgrace to your profession by engaging in these actions.”

Heller sentenced Holiwell to 366 days in prison after the longtime deputy pleaded guilty to single counts of second-degree promoting prostitution, domestic violence; first-degree theft; and violating a drug law. In addition, the former SWAT member who ran a private firearms-training school and participated in shooting competitions cannot own or possess firearms once he’s released from prison, Heller said.

“I have embarrassed myself, my family and this department,” Holiwell, 49, said in court. “Upon completion of my sentence I intend to rejoin the community as a law-abiding citizen. I hope to repair and rebuild the relationships with my family, friends and community that I damaged by my actions.”

“He’s at ground zero,” Holiwell’s attorney, Kristine Costello, said during the sentencing hearing. She said he took full responsibility for his crimes because he wanted to “man up.”

Costello and Senior Deputy Prosecutor Gary Ernsdorff agreed on the sentence. Because it is a day longer than a year, it means he will serve his sentence in prison rather than jail.

The Sheriff’s Office began investigating Holiwell in April, after his estranged wife went to his previous wife to find out if the other woman had endured domestic violence while with Holiwell, authorities said. The former wife mentioned the conversation to a friend who is a sheriff’s employee and the employee notified supervisors.

Although the current wife and the former wife didn’t intend for an investigation, both later provided statements concerning assaults and violent behavior by Holiwell, according to the court charging documents.

Holiwell’s current wife told investigators that Holiwell, knowing her background as an exotic dancer, suggested she work a second job as an escort to help with the family’s financial problems, which worsened when he needed surgery and couldn’t earn overtime related to his SWAT duties or through his firearms-training business, authorities said.

Even though Holiwell’s estranged wife moved to her own condominium when their marriage faltered last year, he helped her work as an escort by providing advice and assisting with security measures, she told investigators. Holiwell would collect about 80 percent of her earnings to help him pay household expenses and expenses related to their two young sons, she said.

Holiwell’s theft conviction stems from his trading of 67 cases of ammunition worth more than $15,000 to two gun shops in exchange for credit to obtain tactical gear and firearms parts.

Sheriff John Urquhart, in announcing Holiwell’s arrest in June, said the probe also uncovered evidence that Holiwell, chief of the department’s Ravensdale shooting range, sold about 19,000 pounds of brass from expended shell casings to three gun shops in exchange for some cash, but mostly for merchandise used by the SWAT team.

Holiwell’s drug conviction stems from his possession and sales of drugs, including steroids.

Urquhart fired Holiwell on July 15.

“Darrion Holiwell violated his oath, the trust of his fellow deputies and the trust of the citizens of King County,” Urquhart said then. “He does not deserve to be a police officer.”