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Pierce Co. deputy to face trial, accused of coercing woman into sex

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A defense attorney for Pierce County sheriff's deputy Joey Tracy says Tracy did not coerce a woman into having sex with him so she could stay out of jail.  But he stopped short of denying Tracy had sex her in his county patrol vehicle.

“He will make it clear that he didn’t force anybody to do anything and that the allegations of coercion in this case are absolutely unfounded,” said attorney Brad Meryhew.

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Asked if Tracy admits having sex with the woman, Meryhew responded, "I'm only going to say at this point that he adamantly denied the charges against him."

According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman, identified only as A.D., claimed 34-year-old Tracy arrested her and drove her from Bonney Lake to Wilkeson in his Pierce County SUV on New Year's Day.

Once there A.D. claimed he, "basically told me if I didn't sleep with him he would take me to jail for all my warrants." A.D. agreed to sex with Tracy then and on another occasion, according to the charges, telling investigators, "I was scared I was going to lose my freedom."

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An internal investigation began in late January, followed by a criminal investigation that led to charges of custodial and official misconduct filed in Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday.

Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor says the accusations have caused anger throughout his department. “We expect people to obey the law if they uphold the law,” said Pastor. “If one of us perpetrates injustice by victimizing somebody, they ought to be held accountable.”

Tracy pleaded not guilty to the charges during arraignment on Friday. He was freed without bail pending trial.

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