Former Santa Rosa Sheriff Lieutenant Pleads Guilty To State And Federal Charges

July 14, 2022

A former Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant pleaded guilty to multiple federal and state felony charges this week.

Scott P. Haines, 50, pleaded guilty in federal court to making material false statements to the FBI during the course of its investigation. In state court, Haines pleaded guilty to the unauthorized access or use of a computer system or network in relation to law enforcement systems.

In federal court, Haines admitted that he became personally involved in the real property management and finances of an elderly woman in Santa Rosa County and deposited rental payments from tenants of the elderly woman into his own bank account without authority to do so. When confronted by the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Haines made material false statements regarding his involvement with the rental properties, the depositing of rental payments into his personal account, and his knowledge and involvement.

In state court, Haines admitted to his personal misuse of the National Crime Information Center database utilized by law enforcement officers and analysts for official purposes.

Haines will be sentenced in federal court on October 17 before District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Haines faces up to five years’ federal imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. He will also pay over $45,000 in investigative and prosecutive costs and relinquish his criminal justice certifications pursuant to the state prosecution.

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 Pleads Guilty To State And Federal Charges”

  1. Christian on July 15th, 2022 12:52 am

    People make very bad choices, one can only hope and pray this man asks The Lord, the lady he took advantage of and also the family of the lady for forgiveness!!! Pray that he asks the Lord into his heart and turns to
    Jesus forever!! God makes miracles out
    Of messes!!

  2. Karma on July 14th, 2022 5:10 pm

    Really. I’m so upset this should not be overlooked. Slap on hand kinda thing. When people file complaint it gets shoved or trashed. He needs to go. What retire? Bull…oh no. I’ll write a sign he can hold up…it’s horrible. Hiding behind his shield…what else he do???

  3. brianh on July 14th, 2022 3:47 pm

    What this man did to this lady AND her family is beyond belief. It was nice how he was able to plead the charges way down. It’s my belief that since he was a former LEO with a very questionable background, he should have the book thrown at him. The lady is over 90 years old with dementia. I know for a fact that a parcel of land was deeded over to him somehow. I hope the family was able to get that back.

  4. Susie on July 14th, 2022 3:02 pm

    @James, Taxpayers do not pay his retirement. I am not taking up for his sorry butt, however HE paid for his retirement the same as any other Law Enforcement Officer by working and being invested in the FRS. And yes, it DOES state that he could lose those benefits by being charged with a felony. He deserves to lose those benefits and will also have to pay restitution or do the time….or both.

  5. K on July 14th, 2022 1:17 pm

    Yes I am very curious if he will lose his state retirement because if you get arrested with a felony they will take it away . Not that I wish someone to lose it but I know people that have so will be interesting to see if anyone says anything to FRS about it

  6. James on July 14th, 2022 9:54 am

    Retired and drawing tax payer retirement. Should be stripped of his benefits while acting illegally under his badge.

  7. Roger on July 14th, 2022 9:50 am

    He retired last year after an internal affairs investigation. HOPEFULLY, HE’LL LOSE THAT RETIREMENT!!!!!

  8. Bill T on July 14th, 2022 9:20 am

    It seems like all this could have been avoided!!!! But unfortunately something inside told this individual to continue!!! Was it greed was it bad judgment was it a misunderstanding!!!! Maybe just stupidity!!! I just don’t know !!! This guy had a great job a respected position in law enforcement and now all this is totally destroyed!!! Again I just don’t get it !!! The court say one thing and the way this went down for some reason tells me otherwise!!!!! In this case definitely the court overrides anything I may think!!!!! We all make mistakes unfortunately this is a major one !!!!!

  9. judy on July 14th, 2022 7:53 am

    @mnon: 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Scott has always been a double-minded person, (a/k/a two-faced). He loved money and power, and abused both when he got them.

  10. mnon on July 14th, 2022 4:20 am

    @barbara what, do you expect bad people to be wearing eye-patches? Bad people are usually extremely nice… Just because someone is being nice to you doesn’t make them a nice person. We see this all the time on here with people defending child molesters “Oh he’d never do that he’s nicest guy, wait until court” etc etc. I think the Bible says something about the devil being very nice and attractive… js…

  11. Barbara Agerton on July 14th, 2022 2:33 am

    We would see Officer Haines, working up at Oops Alley every weekend, years ago. We liked him very much. He was always as nice as could be! .We are very sad to hear of this.