Two sheriff deputies charged in separate incidents; one for indecent exposure, one for theft
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LATEST UPDATE: Deputy accused of stealing porn from dead man, and another allegedly exposed himself to female dispatcher
DRIGGS – Two Teton County Sheriff’s deputies have been charged for separate incidents, ending with both of them being arrested.
Troy Lester Dameron, of Rexburg, has been charged with indecent exposure for allegedly exposing himself to a dispatcher while on duty in August 2023.
Fred Robert Hale, of Tetonia, has been charged with petty theft and alteration or concealment of evidence for allegedly taking property from the scene of an unattended death investigation in September 2023.
According to a news release from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Teton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, upon learning about the officers’ alleged misconduct, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office “immediately placed the officers on administrative leave and reported the conduct to the Teton County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.”
Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Bailey Smith filed motions for the 7th Judicial District to have a special prosecutor appointed to investigate and prosecute each case. Randy Neal, the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney, has been court-appointed as a special prosecutor in both criminal cases.
Smith also directed the sheriff’s office to begin internal investigations into each incident before considering employment ramifications for each officer.
“TCSO promptly initiated the internal investigations at the direction of counsel and coordinated with outside law enforcement agencies in carrying out the criminal and internal investigations,” according to the news release.
Neal filed misdemeanor criminal charges against both Dameron and Hale on Friday.
Magistrate Judge Brendon Taylor issued arrest warrants for both defendants and issued a no-contact order prohibiting Dameron from having any contact with the alleged victim. Taylor set bond at $15,000 for Dameron, and $10,000 for Hale.
Dameron surrendered himself to Madison County Sheriff’s deputies on his warrant on Friday night. Hale surrendered himself to deputies at the Jefferson County Jail on Saturday morning.
Dameron and Hale have both posted bond.
Magistrate Judge Jason Walker, who would typically be assigned the Dameron and Hale criminal cases, voluntarily disqualified himself from both prosecutions.
Magistrate Judge Daniel Clark was assigned to both criminal cases.
“Now that the criminal investigations are concluded, it is anticipated that the internal investigations will be concluded within two weeks, and decisions regarding each officer’s employment will be made accordingly,” says the release. “For all inquiries regarding the criminal cases against Dameron and Hale, please contact Special Prosecutor Randy Neal at the Bonneville County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.”