Order of Protection granted against Sheriff Jerry Hatcher

Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher has been ordered to stay at least 1,000 feet away from his estranged wife's home and workplace after a Benton County judge granted Monica Hatcher an Order of Protection.

According to the petition for the protection order obtained by Newsradio 610 KONA, Monica Hatcher claims that her husband assaulted her after after she confronted him about a suspected affair*.

"This resulted in Jerry physically assaulting me by putting both hands around my throat, backing me up multiple feet and forcing me backwards over our bedroom dresser, while continuing to choke me," Monica Hatcher wrote in court documents.

Mrs. Hatcher also claims that Sheriff Hatcher forced her to submit statements in his favor to the Benton County Prosecutor's Office in regard to an investigation in to Hatcher related a December 13, 2017 incident.

Washington State Patrol spokesperson Curtis Loftis confirmed that WSP was asked about two weeks ago to conduct an investigation into allegations of domestic violence.

Loftis says the agency completed its investigation and forwarded it to the Prosecutor's office.

Monica Hatcher filed for divorce from Jerry on September 18, 2019, confirming that the couple had separated on September 15th.

The order of protection includes an order for Hatcher to surrender his firearms and weapons, along with his concealed weapons permit.

Sheriff Hatcher is expected to appear in court for a hearing related to the order of protection on October 15, 2019.

*Newsradio 610 KONA is aware that Monica Hatcher has named a woman in connection with her unconfirmed allegations that Jerry Hatcher was having an affair. Because the allegations have not been confirmed, and the woman involved has not been charged with a crime, we have chosen not to publish her name at this time.