The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested and fired a detention deputy after its IT department uncovered a security breach on a shared agency computer. Douglas Chirinos, who had worked for the sheriff’s office since 2025, was booked into the DeSoto County Jail on a third-degree felony charge related to unauthorized computer access, according to the agency. Investigators say they found screenshots from surveillance cameras on the computer, including images of partially nude female inmates, along with case information Chirinos wasn’t authorized to access. Deputies say he bypassed security measures, downloaded unapproved programs, and got into other employees’ accounts.
Sheriff Potter issued a blunt statement after the October 23rd discovery, saying he’s extremely disturbed by what the IT department found and that Chirinos will be held accountable for his actions. Detectives say they’ve identified the alleged victims and are notifying them as the investigation continues. For residents across DeSoto County and beyond, the case raises practical questions about how jail surveillance systems are protected and who can see what on agency computers.
The sheriff’s office says this is still an active investigation, so more details may come out in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, if you live in Arcadia or anywhere in the county, how much confidence do you have in how the sheriff’s office monitors internal computer access? Tell us on our Facebook page and we’ll share some of the responses on air.
