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Franklin County sheriff faces jail time over court order compliance.The Brief • Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond has until Friday afternoon to turn over a fingerprint machine or go to jail • Walla Walla County Judge Brandon Johnson rejected Raymond's attempt to have him removed from the case • The dispute stems from county commissioners stripping jail control from Raymond following a state audit that found fund management discrepancies PASCO, Wash.— Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond faces a Friday afternoon deadline to comply with a court order requiring him to turn over a fingerprint machine, or he will go to jail.Walla Walla County Superior Court Judge Brandon Johnson issued the ultimatum Wednesday during a hearing at the Franklin County Courthouse, rejecting Raymond's latest attempt to avoid compliance with the May 3 court order."There are only so many tools in the court's toolbox when it comes to compliance with court orders," Johnson said.Johnson also denied Raymond's request to have him removed from the case and criticized the sheriff for submitting legal filings on his own despite being represented by attorneys."Jim Raymond, the person, was elected to be sheriff.It is Jim Raymond, the person, who has been ordered to comply with the court's order.So for those reasons, the court is denying the request for this judicial officer to disqualify himself," Johnson said.The judge directed that any future motions or legal filings submitted on Raymond's behalf must be signed by one of his attorneys, in accordance with court rules.The fingerprint scanner dispute represents the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between Raymond and Franklin County commissioners over equipment and operations.Johnson was brought in to handle the case about a year ago when Benton-Franklin county judges recused themselves due to conflict-of-interest issues.The conflict began last year when county commissioners stripped Raymond of control over the county jail in a contentious meeting that drew attention across Franklin County.Commissioners officially removed jail operations from the Sheriff's Office and created a new Department of Corrections despite emotional pleas from community members and jail employees.Raymond told the court on May 27 that he had returned the patrol car and did not have the taser cartridges.However, he maintained he could not hand over the fingerprint scanner without first clearing the information stored on it.During Wednesday's two-hour hearing, Raymond's attorney Rebecca Boatright argued that state and federal law prevented Raymond from turning over the scanner without clearing the information first.She contended that doing so would violate the contract that allowed him to purchase the scanner.County attorney Megan Clark countered that Raymond's reasons for non-compliance continue to change with each court appearance.She argued there was no evidence Raymond would face penalties for handing over the equipment.Johnson characterized the dispute as a policy issue, noting that commissioners are allowed to make decisions that impact county law enforcement as long as they follow proper legal procedures."The commissioners are allowed to make bad decisions that impacted the county law enforcement as long as they were done following the law," Johnson said during February proceedings.The judge ruled in February that the county owns the property, giving commissioners the authority to decide what to do with it.He emphasized that his role is limited to determining whether the commissioners' resolution was legal, not whether it represents good policy.Raymond, who is retiring at the end of the year, has appealed Johnson's order to the Washington State Court of Appeals.Johnson acknowledged he could be overturned but stressed that Raymond must follow the current court order until that happens.If Raymond complies with the Friday deadline, he will avoid thousands of dollars in fines he was previously facing.The broader dispute has involved multiple pieces of equipment.When the county took over jail operations, Raymond initially removed 30 guns from the jail that were licensed under his office, though he later returned them.Six other guns remain in the sheriff's office.Raymond has argued he cannot turn over taser cartridges and guns to corrections officers because they are not authorized to possess them.Officials previously stated that the newer fingerprint machine has features needed for daily operations in the sheriff's office.However, Johnson ruled that ownership of the property gives the county commissioners final authority over its disposition, regardless of operational considerations.COPYRIGHT 2026 BY APPLE VALLEY NEWS NOW.ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.