Wasatch County’s embattled sheriff will take paid, voluntary leave following his indictment on a felony charge earlier this month.

Sheriff Jared Rigby sent a letter to county officials Tuesday offering to go on administrative leave, a move which came after pressure from the county council, which had planned to call for his resignation during its Wednesday meeting.

The council abandoned that plan Wednesday, and instead voted to accept Rigby’s administrative leave offer.

Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau made it clear to the council during the meeting that it doesn’t have the power to remove Rigby because voters elected him to the office. Going on paid administrative leave is a typical path for any other county employee in a similar situation, he said.

“This is kind of more of a standard approach to how we handle these circumstances,” he said. “He’s effectively out of the office and not making any decision while on leave.”

Rigby was charged weeks ago with felony obstruction of justice count and a misdemeanor count of making a false statement. Prosecutors allege he interfered with the prosecution of Kouri Richins, who was convicted of poisoning her husband in March.

He has pleaded not guilty.

“My position on the charges has not changed and I will address them in court,” Rigby said in the letter he sent to the county. “The work of protecting this community deserves the county’s full attention and I do not want my case to distract from it. I believe voluntary administrative leave offers a measured path forward, with stability and continuity for the office.”

Rigby did not speak publicly during Wednesday’s county council meeting — but he had a number of supporters assert his innocence during a public comment period before the council voted.

“Where is the respect for the office of sheriff, and for the man, Jared?” questioned Matt Bocanegra. “... This man is not guilty of any of these false accusations. He’s pleaded innocent. He should be able to serve his term to the full.”

Because of the felony charge Rigby faces, state officials have restricted his access to a critical private statewide law enforcement database. He also faces other restrictions that would make it “difficult” for him to do his job, according the county council’s abandoned resolution calling for the sheriff’s resignation.

Rigby lost his reelection bid during the Republican primaries, and his term ends in January. County officials said in their proposed resolution that they had offered to pay Rigby the remainder of his salary and benefits if he would resign from office, but he refused.

In his Tuesday letter, Rigby wrote that he felt it was in the best interest of the sheriff’s office and county residents that he step back from day-to-day duties.

The indictment against Rigby has so far been redacted and blocked from public view. Third District Judge Richard Mrazik has set a court hearing for Nov. 4 to consider whether details in the charging document can be made public.

According to KPCW, the obstruction-of-justice investigation centered around an anonymous letter that prosecutors in Richins’ case received weeks before she went to trial on aggravated murder and other charges. The letter contained allegations related to the lead detective on the case, Eric Mainord.

A motion filed by Rigby’s attorney indicates that the charges accuse Rigby of sending the anonymous letter, which allegedly contained false information.

Mainord had filed to run against Rigby in the Republican primary for the sheriff’s job — though he dropped out of the race in May. Rigby ultimately lost in the June primary to Jeremy Hales, the Wasatch County emergency manager.