How a small-town sheriff outlasted his own county government

Curry County sheriff engaged in ‘deceit, dishonesty’ over foundation donations, investigator finds

The Curry County sheriff used “deceit, dishonesty and subversion” to keep secret his use of private donations to buy pricey equipment and erect a large building on his own Gold Beach property, according to an outside consultant’s investigation.

How a small-town sheriff outlasted his own county government

GOLD BEACH — In this windswept fishing mecca of 2,417 people, where the Rogue River rushes headlong into the Pacific Ocean, the hot-button issue is the fate of Sheriff Johnnie Lee “John” Ward, Curry County’s top lawman for the past 12 years.  Ward, 68, has been accused of lining his own pockets with public dollars; failing to supervise a deputy who went on to shoot two people in Gold Beach in separate incidents; allowing another deputy to defra…