Former Santa Rosa Sheriff Lieutenant Indicted On Federal And State Charges
January 26, 2022
A former Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant is now facing federal charges.
Scott Haines is charged with four federal counts of wire fraud and with making fraudulent statements. He is facing additional state charges.
The federal indictment alleges that, between January 2015 and May 2021, Haines engaged in a scheme to defraud an elderly victim out of over $10,000. The scheme, according to the indictment, is alleged to be based upon Haines’s attempt to obtain the money after inserting himself into the personal and business affairs of the victim.
The indictment also alleges that, when confronted with these allegations by federal agents, Haines made multiple material false statements about his relationship in the personal and business affairs of the victim.
In addition to the federal indictment, Haines was arrested on state charges of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult, theft from a person 65 years of age or older, and unauthorized access of a computer system or network. He appeared in state court after his initial appearance in federal court in Pensacola in order to be advised of the charges against him.
Trial in the federal case has been set for March 7.
He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $40,500 bond, according to jail records.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg and Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Karen C. Murillo.
Haines was demoted from captain to lieutenant following a 2020 sexual harassment investigation. He retired last year after an internal affairs investigation.
Photo: Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office. Under Florida law, Haines’ mugshot was exempt from release.
Comments
11 Responses to “Former Santa Rosa Sheriff Lieutenant Indicted On Federal And State Charges”
Wonder who approved him and signed off on him as being in charge of the oldsters real estate and banking holdings ! Must be more to this conundrum! !
Just one more reason that there are few in uniform to be trusted. Personal experience times two for me. This is absolutely disgusting.
Just because your in to law inforsment don’t give you the right to do things that are unlawful. As they say karma is a B…. & she’s going to come back & bit you in your A.. so it stell don’t pay to brake the law. Your no better then the rest of us you put your pants on one leg at a time just as we all do.
If he is guilty, he deserves the most difficult sentence possible. He’ll be everything evil our TRUE Law Enforcement Officers are NOT. If he’s guilty, he never was man enough to ever be in their shoes. I hope he let’s that sink in.
IF convicted,,will he still get his pension?
Hopefully, this is the first stone that starts an avalanche.
Why was he allowed to retire? Sounds like he should have been fired upon demotion!
If found guilty, hope he loses his retirement check and goes to prison.
There always has to be one bad egg in the basket.
No one is above the law.taking advantage of senior citizens is a nono in the state of florida.he needs to sit in jail and wait is number out.
You Sir, & I use that term VERY loosely, are exactly why the GOOD/HONEST officers are crucified on a daily basis. With your thievery and lies, you just set law enforcement back, yet again. You are beyond despicable & I pray for your victim(s) as well as you.
He retired? Is he receiving retirement pay and benefits? Hopefully not if he’s convicted!