Sam Beus is reappointed as Jerome County’s Prosecuting Attorney

JEROME, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT)—Jerome County has a new prosecuting attorney...well sort of.

The previous prosecutor stepped down last month for not following a county rule.

Earlier this year, Jerome County Prosecuting Attorney Sam Beus was disqualified from the job for not living within the county limits at the time.

The county appointed him to the position back in 2023, and Beus said he planned to move, but it never happened.

Because of this the county commissioners decided to open the position up for 30 days and see who would come forward.

Beus says he agreed with this, thinking it would seem fair, " Conversation with them, think it was the right thing to do just for the voters to say, hey, you know, we opened it up for 30 days, we looked. A looked opportunity for people to say, hey, if if you don’t want me as your prosecutor, by all means come in."

When the position opened to applicants from other counties, a lawyer from Lincoln County came forward, “We interviewed both of them, checked references, talked to judges.”

Ben Crouch, one of the Jerome County’s Commissioners, explains that residents from Jerome County also took part in the election, “Certainly had people talk to us, we had people that voiced their opinion, we had several people come forward that unsolicited, that gave their input.”

The election took place February 3rd, with Beus receiving all three commissioners' votes.

He was sworn-in the next day.

Crouch says one of the factors in the decision was that Beus' held the position before.

Now that Beus' is reappointed he still has to move to Jerome, which he says he’s planning to do, “I’m planning on moving in may, hopefully by the end of May, but if not the end of June, I’ll be in Jerome.”

When it comes to the reason behind te residency rule, Crouch says it’s about living in the community you serve, “Represent the people of their county.”

The next election for county prosecutor is Novemeber 2026, Beus says he will be running again.

Copyright 2025 KMVT. All rights reserved.