Pubdate: Wed, 12 Sep 2007
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2007 News-Journal Corporation
Contact:  http://www.news-journalonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700
Note: gives priority to local writers
Author: Patricio G. Balona, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

VOLUSIA DEPUTY CHARGED IN ROBBERY CONSPIRACY

DELAND -- The plan was to make a traffic stop on the outskirts of 
Daytona Beach and with the help of an accomplice rob a street-level 
drug dealer of money.

But the Volusia County sheriff's deputy accused of plotting the 
robbery did not carry out his plan as agents from the Florida 
Department of Law Enforcement arrested him Tuesday afternoon.

Eugene Walton, a school resource deputy at Campbell Middle School in 
Daytona Beach, was charged with one count of unlawful compensation 
and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, said Susie Murphy, 
FDLE spokeswoman.

"He did this in his capacity as a deputy," Murphy said.

Walton, 40, Daytona Beach, was also charged with one count of misuse 
of confidential information, said Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson. 
Walton used a sheriff's computer to run the tag and get information 
on the drug dealer he planned to rob, Johnson said.

"This is something very disappointing," Johnson said. "The last thing 
you want to see is a cop that goes on the wrong side of the law."

Walton has been suspended without pay and served with a notice that 
he will be fired by Friday, Johnson said.

Walton has been a deputy for 13 years and worked as a school resource 
deputy for nine years. Johnson said he seized Walton's uniform, gun, 
badge and patrol car Tuesday.

"He has let down the kids who looked up to him as a role model," 
Johnson said. "He has disgraced the uniform and the trust put in him 
to uphold the law."

Walton has been an exemplary deputy with only a couple of letters of 
reprimand regarding very minor cases, Johnson said. The sheriff said 
he spoke with Walton after his arrest and Walton said he was sorry, 
although Johnson wondered aloud if it was because he was caught.

"This is not a mistake," Johnson said. "He took time to meet and 
discuss with people what it is they were going to do."

According to Murphy, Walton became a suspect after a source informed 
FDLE and the sheriff's Bureau of Investigations. Walton was arrested, 
along with accused co-conspirator Harry Cooke, 37, Palm Coast, after 
a month-long investigation, Johnson said. Cooke was charged with one 
count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Walton was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on $21,000 
bail while Cooke is being held on $10,000 bail, a booking officer 
said Tuesday night.

There is no evidence that other deputies are involved and that any 
cases Walton worked have been affected, Johnson said. Walton faces 
possible criminal charges from the State Attorney's Office, Johnson said.

"We had a crooked cop. He's involved with some criminals and it 
appears they planned on ripping off a dope dealer," Johnson said. "We 
go after our problems and we are going to fix it."
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