January 10, 2024: Former Cecil County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to Prison for Misconduct in Office and Visual Surveillance with Prurient Intent
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced today that former Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kyle L. Thomas was sentenced to five years of incarceration, with all but one year suspended, followed by three years of supervised probation, for one count of misconduct in office, and one year of incarceration, suspended, for one count of visual surveillance with prurient intent, by the Honorable Paul M. Bowman.
According to the statement of facts read at the plea hearing on October 11, 2023, Thomas served as a Deputy for the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office from February 2021 through July 2023.During that time, Thomas shared sexual photos and videos with a woman with whom he had a romantic relationship, primarily using the social media application Snapchat, because communications and other exchanges typically disappear from the application once viewed. In June 2021, while on duty as a sworn Deputy and acting in his official capacity, Thomas took an explicit video of himself in his police uniform, in the Sheriff’s Office, and shared the video with the same woman, identified as “VICTIM 1” on Snapchat.
VICTIM 1 ended her relationship with Thomas shortly thereafter and reported Thomas to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office (the “Office”). In response, the Office initiated an internal investigation. When Thomas learned of the investigation, he filed charges with a Cecil County Commissioner, requesting that criminal charges be filed against VICTIM 1 for presenting the Sheriff’s Office evidence against him.
During the same period, Thomas was in a sexual relationship with another woman, identified as “VICTIM 2.” Thomas took photos and videos of VICTIM 2 engaged in sexual acts, without her knowledge or consent, and sent the videos to dozens of different social media users. Thomas paid several of the users to watch the videos.
When VICTIM 2 attempted to end her relationship with Thomas, he threatened to post photos and videos of VICTIM 2 on social media, and later sent explicit photos to her loved ones. In May 2023, Thomas received a copy of a search warrant affidavit in this investigation that contained statements made by VICTIM 2. The next day, Thomas sent VICTIM 2 a photo of the affidavit accompanied by expletives calling VICTIM 2 a “liar” and a “b****.” In May 2023, VICTIM 2 obtained a Final Protective Order against THOMAS. Thomas was charged and convicted by the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office for violating the Protective Order.
While sentencing Thomas, Judge Bowman said “The defendant’s conduct is best described as depraved, sadistic, and vicious.”
“I am proud of our office’s efforts to build a strong case against a law enforcement officer who was sworn to protect and serve, not to abuse and traumatize, the residents of Cecil County,” said Howard. “We appreciate the Court’s sentence and believe that it demonstrates to the residents of Cecil County and the entire State of Maryland that real consequences await people who commit crimes such as these, especially by those that hold positions of public trust.”
Mr. Howard thanked Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Abigail E. Ticse and Deputy State Prosecutor Sarah R. David for their work on this case. He also commended the investigative efforts of Special Agents Michael Berg and John Sieracki at the Office of the State Prosecutor and acknowledged the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and Maryland State Police for their assistance.
Cecil County State’s Attorney, James A. Dellmyer, made the following statement: “Thank you to the State Prosecutor, Charlton T. Howard, III, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Abigail Ticse, and their entire team. I appreciate their assistance and their handling of this case in an appropriate manner. The Citizens of Cecil County can rest assured that integrity continues to be maintained in law enforcement.”
Click HERE for a copy of the Statement of Facts.
Contact
media.osp@maryland.gov