Scott County Sheriff: 'We will move forward with an internal investigation'
A Scott County Deputy faces multiple charges after allegations of misconduct and falsifying public documents, according to arrest affidavits.
Court records show that Scott County Deputy Anthony Johnson, of LeClaire, faces a felony charge of falsifying public documents, an aggravated misdemeanor charge of tampering with records, and a serious misdemeanor charge of non-felonious misconduct in office.
Incidents in 2023
On Dec. 1, 2023, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office received information of an inappropriate relationship between Sex Offender Registry Detective Anthony Johnson and a person he supervised on the sex-offender registry, according to arrest affidavits.
According to arrest affidavits, “obtained records and statements made” indicated a sexual relationship began between Johnson and the person around Nov.14, 2023. Johnson used his Scott County department-issued cell phone to communicate with the subject, affidavits say.
Affidavits say Johnson was placed on administrative leave through Scott County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 1, 2023.
“Johnson and the subject both stated Johnson went to the subject’s residence in his department-issued vehicle while on duty and engaged in a sex act between November 27 and November 29,” affidavits say. “Text message records and statements made by Johnson indicated Johnson told the subject to delete messages from their cell phone as late as November 30, 2023.”
A review of Johnson’s department-issued cell phone and comparison to cell records indicate an absence of about 2,000 text messages between Johnson and the subject between November 14 and November 28, 2023, according to affidavits. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office policy for electronic device usage of cell phones defines the phone number and records of a county-issued cellular device as public record, affidavits say.
“Johnson used his department-issued vehicle and cell phone to further his inappropriate relationship with the subject while accruing wages from the County. Johnson admitted to deleting the messages in an attempt to prevent their discovery,” officials allege in affidavits.
Records and statements made during the course of the relationship indicated the subject believed Johnson could have criminally charged the subject with a violation of the registry but did not. Johnson admitted to knowing the subject was using a number during their contacts that was not registered with the sex-offender registry, although registration was required, according to affidavits.
“Johnson was aware the subject was operating a motor vehicle that was not listed on the sex offender registry, and was aware the subject had already been warned by another officer to register, and Johnson did not charge the subject with a registry violation,” affidavits show.
Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane told Our Quad Cities News that Johnson, who remains on administrative leave, turned himself in to Cedar County. Johnson is not in custody, Lane said.
“Now that charges have been filed, we will move forward with an internal investigation,” Lane said. “The sheriff’s office immediately turned it over to the DCI (Division of Criminal Investigation) when we became aware of it.”
Court documents say Cedar County Attorney Adam Blank, or a designee, is appointed as the special acting Scott County Attorney for the purpose of prosecuting Johnson.
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