A former Lee County sheriff’s deputy faces charges after authorities say they found him in possession of material harmful to a minor.
Bryon Haycook, 51, of Cape Coral, faces one count of transmission of material harmful to a minor. He was booked into the Lee County Jail on Thursday.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, in May, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a cybertip about a man communicating online with a 17-year-old girl. The conversations contained explicit content and photos.
The sheriff’s office said detectives with the Innocent Images Unit identified the male as Haycook, a deputy with the sheriff’s office. Haycook was questioned and resigned shortly after, authorities said.
Deputy accused of stealing: Former Lee County sheriff’s deputy accused of stealing from motorists during traffic stops
Detectives presented their findings to the State Attorney’s Office, which issued a warrant for transmission of material harmful to a minor Aug. 1. Haycook turned himself into the Lee County Jail the same day.
According to his arrest warrant, authorities identified the 17-year-old as a Bay County, Florida, resident, based on her IP address. Authorities said Haycook sent her a photograph exposing his privates.
“Nobody can hide behind our badge, they will be held accountable,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno wrote in a statement. “These accusations are disturbing, especially when it involves one of your own. I hold my family members to the highest standard and I will not tolerate any less. Former deputy Haycook’s actions do NOT reflect the values of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.”
Marceno said the sheriff’s office continues to work with the State Attorney’s Office.
Lee Circuit Judge Margaret Steinbeck set Haycook’s bond at $5,000 and ordered no access to social media. She also prohibited Haycook from going to places frequented by minors.
Haycook’s arraignment is set Sept. 3. Jail records on Monday afternoon did not reflect his intake date — which was provided by the sheriff’s office — nor whether he remains in custody or has been released.
He is the second Lee County sheriff’s deputy arrested in less than a week.
Lee sheriff’s deputy stole from motorists during traffic stops
Tyrese Jackson, 37, faces one count of scheme to defraud and two counts of official misconduct in a public agency. He was booked into the Lee County Jail on July 28 and released the following day on $7,500 bond.
Court documents list nine victims throughout seven encounters with Jackson between Jan. 2 and Jan. 22. The 25-page report says Jackson targeted Hispanic motorists, “with little to no valid identification” and a language barrier.