A Sumter County sheriff's detective is out of a job and facing felony charges after an internal audit concluded she allegedly tapped restricted law-enforcement databases to keep tabs on her husband's ex-wife.
Detective Brandy Almany, who had been with the sheriff's office since 2019, was pulled from active duty as soon as the questionable searches surfaced in the audit. By Thursday, she had been fired and arrested.
Audit Trail From Keyboard To Handcuffs
Sumter County Sheriff Pat Breeden said in a department release that an internal audit uncovered unusual activity tied to Almany's login credentials, according to Tampa Bay 28. Breeden said the findings were sent to the State Attorney's Office for Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit before investigators moved ahead with a warrant.
Investigators Say Databases Were Bent To Personal Use
Investigators allege Almany ran personal searches on her husband's ex-wife using the Driver and Vehicle Information Database (DAVID), the statewide court information system (CCIS) and Flock automated license-plate readers, according to Villages-News. Prosecutors say she tried to cover her tracks by creating bogus electronic entries and attaching unrelated case numbers so the queries would look like part of legitimate investigations. Local reports state she was booked into the county jail and held on a $12,500 bond.
Charges Filed And A Wider Crackdown Inside The Agency
The State Attorney's Office obtained a warrant charging Almany with official misconduct and computer-related offenses tied to unauthorized access, Tampa Bay 28 reported. In response, the sheriff's office has moved to terminate her employment and launched a broader audit of database use across the agency to see if anyone else crossed the line.
Why License-Plate Readers Are A Big Part Of This Story
Sumter County has rolled out Flock automated license-plate readers in recent years, a system that can quickly pull location histories from passing vehicles and has drawn scrutiny from privacy advocates, according to the Atlas of Surveillance. The sheriff's office has temporarily suspended its access to the Flock system while auditors dig through the logs to determine whether it was misused and whether internal safeguards need an upgrade.
Felony Stakes Under Florida Law
Under Florida law, "official misconduct" is classified as a third-degree felony, according to the Florida Statutes. Unauthorized access to computer systems falls under Chapter 815 and can also bring third-degree felony penalties or more in certain circumstances, per the Florida Statutes. Together, those provisions give prosecutors a wide range of potential criminal counts and civil remedies if they conclude confidential criminal-justice data was intentionally misused.
The State Attorney's Office will review the audit findings and decide whether to file formal charges. Officials say the investigation is still active while auditors finish their work. Sheriff Breeden has pledged transparency as the department tightens oversight of who is allowed to poke around in sensitive databases and why.
