VIEW SLIDESHOW OF SULLIVAN IN COURT

9Wants to Know had previously reported that Sean Moss, 27, had connections to Sullivan. Moss was found dead in the Platt River just north of Coors Field on Jan. 26.

Investigators do not consider his death suspicious, 9Wants to Know previously reported.

Moss' death was due to probable drowning, Denver County Coroner spokeswoman Michelle Weiss-Samaras told 9Wants to Know.

Sullivan bailed Moss out of jail after Moss was booked on a domestic-violence charge.

Methamphetamine and GHB were found in Moss' system, Weiss-Samaras told 9NEWS Friday. GHB is a schedule-I depressant and also known as a date-rape drug.

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Deputies and police with the South Metro Drug Task Force investigated Sullivan and arrested him Tuesday on allegations he tried to trade drugs for sex as police listened to the encounter.

9Wants to Know talked to Andrew Pino on Friday. Pino was Moss' boyfriend and says he is brokenhearted over his death.

"Sean was a lot of fun and he was very sweet. And he had a messed up life and he needed help," Pino said.

Moss was also known as Joshua Berlin, an adult film star.

Pino says he believes Sullivan and Moss were using drugs together the night before Moss died. Pino says it was something he had seen before.

"I saw him do illegal things with my boyfriend," he said. "This is hard... I've seen him give him drugs. I've seen him using methamphetamines."

Pino says Sullivan came into Moss' life while he was still sheriff. He says the two met at a gay lounge in downtown Denver.

"Sean was kind of a troubled person and Pat would try to help him," Pino said.

In some circles, Pino says Sullivan had a reputation of surrounding himself with troubled young men addicted to drugs.

"He would be characterized as a 'dirty old man,'" Pino said. "At the strip club, they used to call him $20 bill man, 'cause he'd tip 20s."

Pino also says Moss got a job as a security guard with the Cherry Creek School District as a security guard with Sullivan's help. Sullivan was the head of Cherry Creek's security after he retired from the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department.

Cherry Creek released this statement about Moss on Friday afternoon:

"On Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, we received inquiries from the news media asking if Sean Moss, a deceased man associated with former Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan, had ever been employed by the Cherry Creek School District. We reviewed our personnel records, which confirmed that Moss was hired on Aug. 21, 2007 to work in security at Overland High School. Sullivan provided Moss a reference. Moss worked for 13 days and left on Sept. 14, 2007, citing personal reasons in his letter of resignation. We received no complaints regarding his interactions with students during his brief period of employment for the district.

"We also received a second inquiry regarding the tenure and departure of Sullivan. He was hired in July of 2002 as the Cherry Creek School District's first Director of Safety and Security. In the spring of 2008, at the age of 65, Sullivan notified the district of his intention to retire at the end of the school year. This allowed the district time to plan for a transition. A retirement recognition was held for Sullivan on May 29, 2008 at district offices, which was attended by district staff and former colleagues from the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.

"We continue to encourage anyone with any information to contact the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office."

"When you look at the kind of people that he [Sullivan] hung around with - all very young, all very troubled boys. It's hard to say if he was using them... as much as they were using him. Pat had pension, Pat had power. Pat had stability. What these kids did not have," Pino said. "It's just tragic that drugs have ruined so many lives."

Sullivan remained in jail Friday.

Sullivan faces charges of selling a controlled substance, possessing meth, solicitation of a prostitute, and attempting to influence a public servant.

Sullivan served as sheriff from 1984 until he retired in 2002. He started with the department in 1979 after serving with Littleton Police beginning in 1962.

Have a comment or tip for investigative reporter Jace Larson? Call him at 303-871-1432 or e-mail him
jace.larson@9news.com

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