November 19, 2025: Former Cecil County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to Jail for Misconduct in Office and Unauthorized Access to a Computer

Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced today that former Cecil County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dontae D. Odom was sentenced to a total of eight years of incarceration with all but six months suspended, followed by three years of supervised probation, for four counts of misconduct in office and three counts of unauthorized access to a computer, by the Honorable Paul M. Bowman. 

According to the statement of facts read at the plea hearing on October 22, 2025, Odom, who served as a Deputy with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office from 2019 through August 2025, misused his access to confidential law enforcement databases to find information about seven different individuals, including his wife, romantic partners, relatives of his romantic partners, a hotel employee, and a woman who worked in his office building.

Odom even assured at least one victim that he was not searching for their information. In September 2024, shortly after Odom began a relationship with an individual identified as Victim 4, Odom texted Victim 4 that he “looked [Victim 4] up.” Victim 4 asked how Odom looked Victim 4 up and stated: “Just making sure you didn’t look up my address in NCIC [a confidential law enforcement database].” In response, Odom stated, “Umm no that[s] stalking and everything is tracked. I’m not getting fired for that.”  Two days later, Odom searched Victim 4’s name on a law enforcement database. On the same day, Odom conducted two searches related to a relative of Victim 4.

None of the searches conducted by Odom related to the seven victims were for a legitimate law enforcement reason.

Further, in December 2024, Odom he was ordered by the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office not to have any contact with Victim 4. Nonetheless, in March 2025, Odom met with Victim 4 and recorded a private conversation, without the Victim’s knowledge or consent.

While sentencing Odom, Judge Bowman said “You have done incalculable harm to law enforcement. You have truly dishonored the badge you used to wear.”  Judge Bowman also went on to state “your unlawful behavior while serving as a police officer will not be tolerated.”

“Law enforcement officers have access to sensitive and confidential information necessary to discharge their official duties.  Our office will continue to do our best to ensure that those officers who abuse their positions of trust and misuse their authorities for corrupt reasons are held accountable,” said Howard. 

Mr. Howard thanked Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Abigail E. Ticse and Mary W. Setzer 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 also thanked the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

A copy of the Statement of Facts can be found HERE.

Contact: media.osp@maryland.gov