Judge tosses Orozco case

A Yakima County Superior Court judge Wednesday threw out the criminal case against former Wapato Mayor and City Administrator.

During a preliminary appearance on allegations of corruption in public office, Judge Douglas Federspiel ruled there was "no factual basis" for the charges and dismissed the case against Juan Orozco. He faced charges of official misconduct, as well as misappropriating and falsifying public accounts after his arrest at his home Tuesday afternoon.

The Yakima County Prosecutor launched an investigation following a State Auditor's report in May in which eight different findings of unlawful activity were uncovered.

Orozco resigned in July and agreed to waive any severance as part of an agreement with the state Attorney General’s Office.