Washington state authorities are investigating a prosecutor after she allegedly sent a bikini picture to a wanted felon, KXLY reported.
Court documents revealed that Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Marriya Wright shared over 1,000 text messages with Mathew Baumrucker, a six-time convict with the word "criminal" tattooed across his forehead, between February and March.
In addition to the texts, a picture of Wright, 34, wearing a bikini was found inside Baumrucker's jail cell after he was arrested in March, according to the court documents released last week.
Authorities believe Wright may have helped Baumrucker, 31, elude police when he was wanted on drug charges and possible assault.
On one occasion in March, police tracked Baumrucker to a woman's apartment. The unnamed woman later told police she heard Baumrucker on the phone with someone he called "Marriya."
"Marriya, the police are chasing me, I am in an apartment," Baumrucker allegedly said, KXLY reported. He then told the apartment owner that "Mariyya told him she didn't have to let police in to search if they did not have a search warrant."
Another witness later told police Wright and Baumrucker met in her car at a nearby gas station, which a surveillance video from the station confirmed. The witness said "she overheard Marriya telling Baumrucker he needed to get his warrants taken care of," the station reported.
Wright visited Baumrucker multiple times following his arrest. It is not clear how Baumrucker obtained the alleged bikini pic, but the attorney-client booth where their visits took place was set up to allow the sharing of documents.
An unnamed corrections officer said he saw the picture of Wright in Baumrucker's cell.
Baumrucker, who has past convictions for robbery and domestic violence, is still in jail pending his trial in October.
Wright has since been placed on paid administrative leave. She faces charges of rendering criminal assistance.
