MISSOULA – Ravalli County’s undersheriff has resigned amid an investigation into a domestic disturbance at his home earlier this month.
Undersheriff Kevin McConnell resigned Friday, citing personal and family reasons.
“This whole thing is just so sad,” said Missoula County Sheriff Mike McMeekin, who was brought in to conduct an outside investigation into a July 18 domestic disturbance at McConnell’s home south of Darby. “Kevin McConnell is just a very ethical straightforward guy.”
McMeekin and Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman declined to release details about the disturbance, citing an ongoing investigation. No charges have been filed.
McMeekin says he will mail his report to the state Attorney General’s Office, which will make a recommendation to Ravalli County prosecutor George Corn.
“As with any other investigation, I don’t offer opinions,” McMeekin said. “I just put the facts together.”
The sheriff stressed that McConnell’s resignation was “strictly an independent action on his part.” He said it would be up to the Attorney General’s Office “to make a recommendation about whether one or both parties should be prosecuted, and if so for what.”
McConnell joined the sheriff’s office in 1996 and became undersheriff in 2002. His tenure included posts as a patrol deputy, patrol sergeant, search and rescue coordinator, deputy coroner and chief deputy coroner.