October 17, 2017 - 4:24 AM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A Florida sheriff says two of his deputies were forced to leave their jobs after an investigation found they were preying on women in drug court programs.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Monday that 50-year-old Bryan Scott Barnett and 47-year-old Jay Hawman offered money or gifts in exchange for sex. Barnett resigned last December and Hawman was fired July 25.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports at least 10 women were interviewed by sheriff's officers investigators.
Chitwood said the men were in court when the judge had personal conversations with the women and they then used social media to contact them.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state attorney's office will review the reports to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017