April 4, 2024: Easton Police Department Officer Charged with Misconduct in Office

Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced today that Easton Police Department Sergeant Jason Dyott has been charged by criminal information with two counts of Misconduct in Office.

According to the charging document, Sergeant Dyott, who served as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Easton Police Department since approximately June 2008, used his departmental cellular telephone to communicate in a sexual manner with several teenagers and students at local high schools in Talbot County, Maryland.

The charging document alleges that in approximately November 2022, Sergeant Dyott began communicating with TEENAGE VICTIM # 1 via the Snapchat application. Sergeant Dyott leveraged his position as a police officer to engage in a sexual relationship with TEENAGE VICTIM # 1, and he sent her multiple photographs which contained sexually provocative language and depicted him in his police uniform. On November 13, 2022, Sergeant Dyott was on duty as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Easton Police Department, and while on duty and in uniform, he met with TEENAGE VICTIM # 1 and made out with her in his police vehicle. After Sergeant Dyott became aware of an investigation being conducted pertaining to his sexual contact with one or more high school students, he conducted the following internet searches on his personal cell phone, among others: “legal consent sex age in md” and “Maryland Child Pornography Penalties.”

The charging document further alleges that in approximately November 2022, Sergeant Dyott began communicating with another young female, identified as “TEENAGE VICTIM # 2,” via his departmental cellular telephone, and sent her photographs of himself posed in his police uniform. On November 11, 2022, Sergeant Dyott picked up TEENAGE VICTIM # 2 from a residence and engaged in sexual intercourse with her inside of his patrol vehicle.

All individuals who are charged with a criminal offense are presumed to be innocent.

A copy of the charging document can be found HERE.

Contact:
media.osp.maryland.gov