A Florida sheriff is being questioned about criminal background checks he is accused of doing as a favor to his cousin. Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott told a newspaper that he did a criminal background check on two people because his cousin asked for a favor. The problem is he may have used the state and federal search systems, which is violation of the county’s agreement with the state.
The sheriff asked his lieutenant to do the background checks. The lieutenant has resigned from the sheriff’s department and is reported to be thinking about running against the sheriff.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is not investigating the sheriff’s actions. A spokesman said Scott is on the ‘honor system” and he would be responsible for reporting any violations.
