LARGO, FL — Two Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies were arrested Wednesday following separate investigations into allegations they improperly used law enforcement databases to obtain personal information about women they were interested in, including one case uncovered through an audit of the agency’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) system.
Former Deputy Travis Stanton, 33, who was hired by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 13, 2017, was arrested after investigators said he repeatedly visited a 17-year-old girl’s workplace and searched for information about her and her family through multiple databases. Investigators said Stanton referred to the girl as his “queen” despite his attention not being reciprocated.
Stanton resigned Sept. 25 while under investigation. He faces one count of accessing a computer or electronic device without authority and one count of official misconduct.
Former Deputy Karl Gwynne, 57, who was hired Jan. 10, 2005, was arrested following a separate investigation that began after a media inquiry. The sheriff’s office said an ALPR system audit revealed possible database misuse.
Investigators said Gwynne searched a woman he had arrested in 2010 more than 381 times across five law enforcement databases between January 2025 and July 2026 after becoming romantically interested in her. Authorities said the woman repeatedly rejected his advances and told him she wanted to remain friends.
Gwynne resigned Sept. 11 after being questioned about the alleged misuse. He faces four counts of accessing a computer or electronic device without authority and one count of official misconduct.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said both former deputies knew their actions were wrong.
SOURCE: PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICES
