The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that two former deputies have been taken into custody after separate investigations revealed that each misused law‑enforcement databases to conduct personal background checks on women they were attempting to court.
## Investigation into Deputy Travis Stanton
The first inquiry began on August 26 when a teenage girl filed an online complaint against Deputy Travis Stanton. Investigators discovered that Stanton visited the teenager at her place of employment on at least nine occasions between July 28 and September 17. During these visits, he discussed her suspended driver’s license and other matters. Detectives determined that Stanton accessed multiple law‑enforcement databases to retrieve personal information on the girl and her family members.
Stanton’s conduct extended beyond unprofessional inquiries; he expressed a romantic interest in the teenager, referring to her as his “queen,” despite her clear lack of reciprocal feelings. As the investigation progressed, Stanton resigned from the sheriff’s office. On Wednesday, authorities arrested him on one count of unauthorized access to a computer or electronic device and one count of official misconduct.
## Investigation into Deputy Karl Gwynne
The second case emerged on August 20 after a media outlet prompted a review of the agency’s automated license‑plate‑reader system. Audits revealed that Deputy Karl Gwynne accessed county and state databases without authorization. Detectives found that, between January 2025 and July 2026, Gwynne performed 381 searches across five law‑enforcement information systems to gather data on a woman he wished to date.
Investigators learned that Gwynne had allowed the woman and her mother to stay in a condominium he owned in 2025 and had purchased gifts for her. The woman repeatedly told Gwynne that she wanted to remain friends and rejected his romantic advances. Following questioning about the database activity, Gwynne resigned from the department. He now faces four counts of unauthorized access to a computer or electronic device and one count of official misconduct.
## Legal Outcomes
Both former deputies have been charged with violations of the state’s computer‑access statutes and official misconduct. Their arrests underscore the seriousness with which the sheriff’s office treats unauthorized exploitation of law‑enforcement resources for personal purposes.
## Sheriff’s Remarks
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri addressed the arrests during a press conference, emphasizing the gravity of the misconduct. He stated, “They knew they did wrong, especially with a 17‑year‑old girl. Both of them are clearly wrong.” The sheriff’s comments reflect the department’s commitment to accountability and the protection of public trust.
## Conclusion
The arrests of former Deputies Travis Stanton and Karl Gwynne demonstrate that misuse of police databases for personal gain will result in criminal prosecution and departmental action. By pursuing these cases, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office affirms its duty to enforce ethical standards among its personnel and to safeguard the integrity of law‑enforcement information systems.
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