Department of Juvenile Justice Detention Officer Arrested for Child Abuse (25-030)
CLEARWATER – Deputies assigned to the Patrol Operations Bureau arrested a Department of Juvenile Justice Detention Officer for Child Abuse after battering an inmate.
According to deputies, on March 11, 2025, a 15-year-old male inmate housed at the Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center, located at 5255 140th Avenue North, requested assistance from staff. The detention officer, 60-year-old Anthony Sandora, was on duty and assigned to the area where the inmate was housed. The inmate began to kick his cell door after his requests for assistance went unanswered by Sandora. Deputies state Sandora then opened the door and was witnessed entering the cell and slapping the inmate in the face before pushing him down onto a bed. Sandora threw all of the inmate’s belongings out of the cell into the hallway before exiting.
Deputies advised approximately five minutes later, Sandora re-entered the cell after the inmate began to intentionally flood his cell with water. According to deputies, Sandora then grabbed the inmate by the neck, pushed him back onto the bed, and punched him in the face. The inmate was moved to an isolation cell and did not sustain any injuries during the incident.On March 12th, 2025, deputies arrested Sandora and charged him with one count of Child Abuse, and he was transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
Sandora was employed with the Department of Juvenile Justice for approximately 10 months and was terminated for violating the department’s policies.
The investigation continues.
Additional Information:Anthony Sandora (Suspect – Arrested)Age: 60Charge: Child Abuse15-year-old male victim (Inmate – Uninjured)Per Florida Statute 119.071(2)(h)1, no further details will be released that would tend to identify the victim.
