Lieutenant with Santa Rose County now in an inmate. Talk about a change of uniforms....

X-Lt. John Tomlinson, 46, has found himself on the wrong side of the bars.












Tomlinson at some point in his law enforcement career took a wrong turn somewhere and now rest in jail accused of a heinous crime.

The X-cop has been charged with 120 counts, yes 120 counts of sexually battery on a child between 12 and 18 years old.

120 counts, how long has this man being abusing children?

Now if 120 counts wasn’t enough it was also posted that since some evidence has come up he will also face 5 additional charges involving capital sexual battery.

I wonder if they are going to work out a plea deal for this guy, because right now he went from a high ranking sheriff’s office official to facing life in prison.

It has also been reported that the States Attorney’s Office could seek the death penalty in this case as well.

Tomlinson first court appearance was March 12 and he should have been arraigned on all charges on March 16.

Apparently the Sheriff’s Office had called in the FDLE to investigate allegations that Tomlinson was having sexual relations with a minor.

There was nothing reported as to who actually reported the sexual relations to the Sheriff’s Office.

Tomlinson was placed on immediate paid leave.

Please Note -- Paid leave, so we are paying a deputy sheriff to sit in jail on paid leave. What a shame.

Granted he has not been convicted yet so he is presumed innocent until proven guilty but here is another prime example of the residents of Florida paying a public safety official because he is accused of committing (a lot of) crimes.

Not just a few charges, but 125 charges.

Obviously this criminal action has been taking place for a long long time.

I just don’t understand. But hey that’s just me. I still think that any public safety official arrested should be placed on un-paid leave the minute the handcuffs are slapped on. (If they even handcuffed him when he was arrested.)

Ha, I wonder if he got arrested while on duty. Wouldn’t that be a smack in the face?

I will never understand why we tolerate paying people to commit crimes.

Anyway, the judge set a rather hefty bond. The bond was set at 845,000.

The Sheriff and other officials spoke highly of the X-Lt. Tomlinson and said they would be very disappointed if he was found guilty of these crimes.

I have not read or heard any information on the victim or victims.

I’m sure we will learn more as this case progress through the courts.