Manatee County jail sergeant fired after arrest on porn charges involving minor
A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office corrections sergeant has been fired after being charged with pornography involving a minor.
Sgt. Stephen Utter, 37, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with unlawful use of a two-way communications device, transmission of harmful material to a minor and use of computer devices to solicit illegal acts.
Utter, who has been with the sheriff’s office since October 2011, has been terminated, spokesman Randy Warren announced in a news release.
“It is extremely upsetting to learn that a member of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office participated in such despicable, unlawful behavior! These actions are shocking and unacceptable on all levels,” Sheriff Rick Wells said in a statement. “I would like to commend Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives for their diligent work in removing this threat to the most vulnerable in the community, our children.”
The sheriff’s office said it would not comment further on the case since it is a pending criminal investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
