Former Deputies Plead Guilty in Separate Misconduct Cases in Orange and Starke Counties

Two former sheriff's deputies from different counties have recently pleaded guilty to charges related to misconduct during their service. Arcadio Rodriguez, a former Orange County Sheriff's deputy, admitted to molesting two female inmates and showing them illicit videos while working at the Theo Lacy Facility, receiving a sentence of time served, one year informal probation, and mandatory sex offender registration for at least 10 years. Don Ferguson, a former Starke County Sheriff's deputy, pleaded guilty to filing a false police report stemming from a 2020 investigation into missing drugs and cash from the evidence room, resulting in a 60-day jail sentence and four months of probation. Ferguson was acquitted on some charges and had others dismissed as part of a plea deal after a hung jury on the remaining charges. His case was prosecuted by a special prosecutor and involved a special judge. These cases highlight ongoing legal consequences for law enforcement officers involved in criminal activities related to their official duties.