Three Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies Placed On Unpaid Leave

Delaware County Sheriff Walter Davis placed three indicted deputies on administrative leave without pay on Monday.

The three deputies were indicted on Friday on charges of unauthorized use of property, 10TV's Jason Frazer reported.

Lyle Chasse, James Cuccarese and Robert Curren were charged.

Chasse is charged with three counts of the offense, Cuccarese is charged with two counts and Curren is charged with one count, according to court documents.

“When I met with the deputies this morning, it was a one way conversation,” said Davis. “I believe the tax payers we serve and work for would not expect us to pay members of this office to sit at home while being paid tax dollars for no service.”   

According to investigators, the offenses took place on three occasions beginning in 2009.

Investigators believe the men used a LEADS computer system, which is an investigative database system for unauthorized reasons.

The system is used by investigators to keep track of people's criminal history.

In August, Chasse told 10TV News that he believed Davis mishandled an investigation involving a domestic dispute at Ohio State Sen. Kris Jordan's home.

After an eight month investigation, Chasse was accused on Friday of using the LEADS system to keep tabs on Orange Township Fiscal Officer Joel Spitzer.

Spitzer claimed that Chasse harassed him on numerous occasions and said that Chasse accused him of having an affair when Chasse stopped him and an acquaintance in 2009.

Chasse denied the allegations and believed the indictments were politically motivated.

"All we ask is that judgment and speculation be withheld until all of the facts are revealed in court," said Chasse's attorney in a statement released on Friday.  "I truly believe that my client will be fully vindicated."

It was not clear if Cuccarese and Curren's charges were related to Chasse's or if they were separate violations.

Cuccarese is a 13-year veteran and Curren is a nine-year veteran with the sheriff's office.

Davis said he was reviewing the "do and don'ts" of proper use of the LEADS computer with all deputies.

He also said the LEADS system will be audited every three months rather than once a year. All deputies will be required to attend a refresher course on the proper use of LEADS.

“We must be accountable and work within the guidelines of this office and within the public that we serve,” Davis said.

The Sheriff’s Office remained under investigation for how it handled Jordan’s domestic incident. Davis said that the office did nothing wrong and the investigation will show that.

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