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.
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