A Washington County resident is behind bars today on felony charges.
This afternoon, at approximately 2:15 pm, Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year-old Laura Lee Cates of Sunny Hills.
Cates is an employee with the Florida Dept. of Corrections Probation and Parole Office in Chipley.
Reports allege that an incident occurred yesterday afternoon between Cates and a victim of a pending felony court case.
The victim stated that Cates told them if they did not accept the plea deal in the case, Cates would file criminal charges against the victim in an unrelated incident and to our knowledge that does not exist.
Cates was arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail on the charges of unlawfully and intentionally threatening a victim to file criminal charges against them to persuade this person who is a victim of a second-degree felony case for a lighter plea deal for the defendant.
“I will not tolerate a victim of any criminal case to be threatened or intimidated,” stated Sheriff Kevin Crews.
