No charges yet, but stalking investigation ongoing against King County assessor following arrest

No rush charges will be filed against King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson for an arrest outside his ex-fiancee’s Seattle home last week, but Snohomish County prosecutors say an investigation is ongoing.

Wilson, who is running for county executive, has a temporary restraining order against him and allegedly violated it multiple times last week, according to police reports.

At a second appearance in court Tuesday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against Wilson. They have instead asked Snohomish County prosecutors to decide whether to prosecute to “avoid a potential conflict or even the appearance of a conflict,” a spokesperson said. The King County prosecuting attorney advises the county assessor’s office on civil legal matters.

"We are not filing charges within the 72 hour period, but the investigation is ongoing," Rebecca Vasquez, a deputy prosecuting attorney at Snohomish County, told KUOW, adding that she should know in the next few days how long the investigation is going to take.

Wilson and his lawyer did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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"We are mindful that this is a case that has more public interest or import than the average case," said Michael Held, chief of staff at the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office. "Rebecca will diligently review it in a fashion that may be more accelerated than if it was just another case in her pile."

Though no charges will be filed currently, the scandal leading up to last week’s arrest has consumed John Wilson’s bid for executive, which was lagging in fundraising and private polling even before his arrest.

Wilson has been told to resign from the office he currently holds by a number of local elected officials, including Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and the county council held a vote of no confidence against him last month.

Even some donors are regretting their support.

The union representing the county appraisers Wilson oversees — Teamsters Local 763, which gave him $1,200 in March — has withdrawn its endorsement. Joe Mallahan, a former T-Mobile executive who’s running for mayor of Seattle and gave Wilson $500 last year, has also had second thoughts.

“I lost 500 bucks on a campaign that shouldn't go forward. That's not my concern. My concern is for Lee and for just terminating this extraordinarily bad behavior,” said Mallahan, who had Wilson’s help on his first campaign for mayor in 2009. “Lee is a credible victim of this, and we should be thinking about her first.”

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Suzie Burke — an influential donor who gave Wilson nearly $3,000 between herself and her real-estate agency, the Fremont Dock Company, in December — defended Wilson.

“They're both very nice people. I wish them both a lot. But as far as a King County Executive, we need somebody who cares about the people of King County,” Burke said. “And John has always shown that in a way that I'm not sure that the members of the King County Council do — keeping expenses down, going down to the Legislature and trying to reduce taxes rather than raise them.”

Wilson didn’t answer calls, texts, or emails about whether he now plans to resign and end his executive bid post-arrest.

RELATED: King County assessor says he won't resign amid stalking allegation scandal

Normally, a county assessor can only be removed by the voters — either next year when he’s up for reelection, or during a recall election. If he were charged with a “crime involving moral turpitude,” according to the King County Charter, he could hypothetically be removed.

Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts is planning to challenge Wilson for assessor next year, and has already snagged endorsements from a number of local elected leaders, including former King County Assessor Lloyd Hara, the mayors of Redmond and Tacoma, and several state representatives.