A former Snohomish County sheriff’s sergeant admitted Thursday he ignored his duty and helped launder money he knew came from a multimillion-dollar prostitution operation that transformed roadside coffee huts into drive-through brothels.
Darrell O’Neill, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of felony conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of misdemeanor official misconduct. He faces up to a year in jail.
Thursday’s Snohomish County Superior Court hearing came roughly a week before O’Neill was scheduled to face trial on the more serious charge of second-degree promoting prostitution. That offense carried the prospect of a longer prison sentence because prosectors were alleging aggravating circumstances, including the deputy’s abuse of his position of trust and the amount of money involved.