Officials: Sammamish man Charged With Child Pornography Possession Released from King County Jail

A Sammamish man charged with child pornography possession was released from jail Tuesday on his own recognizance, despite arguments from King County prosecutors and concern from his former wife.

Joseph P. Padgett, a former California police officer who was charged Jan. 7, had a court hearing at which prosecutors requested that he remain in King County Jail on $75,000 bail, Dan Donohoe, King County prosecutors’ spokesman, said.

Padgett, 48, pleaded not guilty on Jan. 20 to the charge. His attorney on Tuesday evening said that he would need his client’s consent before commenting on the case or the release.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, it remained unclear why King County Superior Court Judge Theresa Doyle released Padgett. Late Tuesday afternoon, Donohoe tried contacting the prosecutor who was in the courtroom for the reason for the release.

As part of the release, the court has ordered Padgett to not have contact with minors or his former wife, Donohoe said. He also cannot have access to the Internet or weapons. He must report to court hearings.

His next court hearing has been scheduled for March 22.

But as of Tuesday, Padgett was permitted to return to the house he once shared with his wife to collect personal belongings, Sammamish police and his former wife, Darla Padgett, said.

In an email on Sunday, Darla Padgett said the judge changed the instructions later in the week after learning of a restraining order. One of Joseph Padgett's friends was scheduled to meet Darla Padgett at a neutral location to pickup his belongings, she said.

Darla Padgett also believes that her former husband can use the Internet at libraries to look for work and where there are typically software filters. 

Darla Padgett expressed dismay Tuesday that her former husband could leave jail, despite being charged with child pornography possession. She had planned on attending the hearing to tell the judge why her former husband should remain incarcerated, she said.

But, as she explained, a government crime victim advocate learned of the hearing too late and left a voice mail message, informing her of the release and apologizing.

“They were supposed to inform me in advance so I could make a statement on why he should be kept in jail. The system never let me know until after he was out,” Darla Padgett said Tuesday.

“Where does that leave me? I’m trying to protect my son and myself.”

A King County Sheriff’s detective assigned to Sammamish police also contacted her with the news, she said.

As of early Tuesday evening, Joseph Padgett had not arrived at her Sammamish house to collect his belongings. That visit, referred to as a standby by authorities, needs to be coordinated with police.

“I have a big sign on my front and back door that says ‘Police: Do not do a standby without me being present,’” Darla Padgett said.

Her cell phone number is listed on those signs.

In charging papers, King County prosecutors said Joseph Padgett had child pornography on computer files, including images of men having sex with underage girls.

Authorities reported in charging papers that he had "hundreds of images of obviously underage girls posed provocatively, in lingerie and naked." Other photographs show adult men having sexual contact with what authorities said were underage girls.

The police report says that Darla Padgett told authorities of the child pornography in November. She reportedly had his safe opened in July, according to the report. The safe contained the computer files.

But she stressed to Sammamish Patch that she did not know the contents of the computers or the files, which she said were fingerprint encrypted. Only in November, when her husband took certain actions, did police investigators have probable cause to search those files and computers, she has said. 

Padgett could face a standard sentencing range of 12 to 14 months in prison, if he is found guilty. The maximum sentencing, if found guilty, is up to 10 years in prison.

He once was a member of the San Jose, Calif. police department, a spokesman for that agency confirmed.

The last report that King County prosecutors had was that Joseph Padgett was sleeping out of his car before his Jan. 5 arrest and detention. It remained unclear to prosecutors where he would go after leaving jail.

“That was one of our concerns,” Donohoe said.

Darla Padgett said she wants the Sammamish community to know the news. “People need to know to keep their guards up,” she said.

Editor's note: This story was revised on Sunday, Feb. 27 to reflect new information from Darla Padgett about one of her former husband's friends picking up belongings at her house. It will be updated should Joseph Padgett's attorney respond with a comment about the case. Also, Sammamish Patch has contacted King County Superior Court Judge Theresa Doyle's bailiff for a comment. That will be included should one be released.