Pubdate: Sat, 03 Dec 2011 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 2011 The Denver Post Corp Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122 Authors: Kevin Vaughan, and Sara Burnett MAN LATER FOUND DEAD GOT CHERRY CREEK SCHOOLS JOB THROUGH JAILED EX-SHERIFF SULLIVAN Former Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan, who was formally charged Friday in a drugs-for-sex case, in 2007 helped an acquaintance land a job at Cherry Creek schools - a young man whose unexplained death earlier this year involved methamphetamine. Sullivan had a relationship with Sean Moss as far back as mid-2007, when the longtime sheriff was still director of security at Cherry Creek schools. Earlier this year, Denver police detectives questioned Sullivan after Moss was found dead Jan. 26 in the South Platte River. Moss drowned with both methamphetamine and the club drug GHB in his system, according to an autopsy report made public Friday. Moss claimed on a website to have appeared in 17 gay pornographic movies, including films with the titles "Riding Boys in Cars" and "Rough Around the Edges." Moss, whose death remains under investigation, used the stage name Joshua Berlin. Sullivan - for decades one of Colorado's most visible lawmen - was jailed Tuesday after a sting in which he allegedly tried to trade methamphetamine for sex with a male acquaintance. He remained behind bars Friday on $500,000 bail, held in isolation in the jail that bears his name, the Patrick J. Sullivan Jr. Detention Facility. He retired as sheriff in January 2003 after deciding not to seek a sixth term, then worked for six years as director of security at Cherry Creek schools. Prosecutors filed four formal charges against him Friday: . Distribution of a controlled substance, a felony, alleging that he attempted to give methamphetamine to a man Tuesday in exchange for sex. . Possession of methamphetamine, a felony, alleging that officers found the drug when they searched him after his arrest. . Solicitation of prostitution, a misdemeanor, alleging that he sought sex in exchange for a payment in drugs. . Attempt to influence a public official, a felony, alleging that he deceived officers Sept. 20. Sullivan was interviewed that day after a man called 911 and alleged the former sheriff was providing meth to three roommates. In that interview, Sullivan claimed he worked for the state health department in a treatment program and was working to help get the three men off drugs, according to court documents. Timothy Faase, the man suspected of providing the meth to Sullivan, is expected to be formally charged Monday, said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver district attorney's office. Faase, 49, was being held on $25,000 bail. Denver police are in the midst of an "active, open, ongoing" investigation of Moss' death, department spokesman Sonny Jackson said. Denver Deputy Coroner Michelle Weiss-Samaras said Moss drowned but investigators were not able to determine the manner of death - whether it was an accident, a suicide or a homicide. Autopsy reports show that Moss had previously expressed suicidal thoughts and may have attempted suicide before his death. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said he was told earlier this year by a Denver detective that Sullivan had bailed Moss out of jail shortly before his death. However, records show that a bondsman put up the money to free Moss after he was arrested Jan. 14 on domestic violence charges. A court document obtained by The Denver Post, however, showed Sullivan was involved in the case. After Moss' death, the bondsman filed documents in Arapahoe County Court seeking to drop the bond. "Retired Sheriff, Pat Sullivan personally contacted this surety about this death," the bondsman wrote in the motion. Cherry Creek schools confirmed that Moss - with the backing of Sullivan - had been hired Aug. 21, 2007, to work security at Overland High School. He resigned Sept. 14, 2007, citing personal reasons. "We had no complaints regarding his interaction with students," said Tustin Amole, spokeswoman for Cherry Creek schools. Denver Post staff writers Sara Burnett and Felisa Cardona contributed to this report. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart