Three Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office employees were arrested Tuesday after investigators said they falsified official documents, and one of them is also facing related kidnapping and battery allegations. The employees, Deputy Aljhady Acevedo, Deputy Dennis Smikle and Sgt. Travis Faller, were booked the same day and have been placed on paid administrative leave.
According to WPTV, all three are charged with two counts of fraud, specifically false statement by a public servant and falsifying an official document. Acevedo faces a much longer list of accusations, including kidnapping, two counts of obstructing justice by tampering with a witness, two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of battery.
Booking information reviewed by the station shows Sgt. Faller was booked at 12:29 p.m. and released at 2:32 p.m. after posting a $5,000 surety bond. Deputy Smikle was booked at 1:27 p.m. and released at 3:15 p.m., also after posting $5,000. Acevedo was booked at 12:19 p.m. and remained in custody at the Main Detention Center.
Sheriff's office response and booking records
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office online booking blotter lists the three arrests and shows Acevedo held at the Main Detention Center. The blotter can be searched by name and booking date.
In a statement to WPTV, PBSO Public Information Officer Teri Barbera said, "The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office holds all employees to the highest standards and remains committed to maintaining the public's trust." The agency said the alleged misconduct was identified and investigated internally before the arrests, and confirmed that the three employees are on paid administrative leave. The booking tool is publicly available through the agency's PBSO booking blotter.
Charges under state law
Under Florida law, falsifying an official document or making a false statement as a public servant falls under official misconduct, which is treated as a third degree felony. Official misconduct is defined in F.S. 838.022, and maximum penalties for third degree felonies are outlined in Chapter 775, including potential prison terms of up to five years.
At this stage, these remain allegations. All three employees are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
What comes next
Prosecutors with the 15th Judicial Circuit, also known as the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, will review the arrest reports and any supporting evidence before deciding what charges to formally file in court. The State Attorney's Office has a Criminal Justice Complex branch at the Palm Beach County jail on Gun Club Road, where first appearances and arraignments are commonly handled, according to the State Attorney's Office.
As the case moves forward, court filings and future hearings are expected to appear in public court records and in the sheriff's booking blotter.
