SEMINOLE CO. SHERIFF, UNDERSHERIFF RESIGN DURING INVESTIGATION INTO MISSING FUNDS
Ch 9 - August 23, 2023 9:07 am
Seminole County Sheriff Shannon Smith and Undersheriff Matt Healy resign.
The Attorney General’s office is looking into missing funds from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation into misappropriated funds started earlier in 2023, according to County Commissioner Timothy Porter.
“I’ve heard several different numbers. No one has ever come to us and said ‘this is a hard number that’s missing,'” Porter said. “The auditors were in for quite a while going through quite a bit of stuff.”
Sheriff Shannon Smith’s resignation will go in effect at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 31. Undersheriff Matt Healy’s resignation went into effect at 8 a.m. Monday. A third employee who was let go a few months ago is also under investigation, according to Porter.
According to a document from the state Attorney General’s office, the Sheriff is accused of mishandling funds from the Seminole County Sheriff Deputy Association Fund. He has to pay $2,566 in restitution, resign his position and not seek employment in law enforcement for two years. The state will not file charges if Smith completes the conditions of the agreement.
There will be a special meeting held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Seminole County Courthouse to appoint a temporary staff.