ELKTON, MD – A former Cecil County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison, with all but six months suspended, for repeatedly conducting unlawful searches in a police database, according to the Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge Paul M. Bowman handed down the sentence to 34-year-old Donta Odom in Cecil County Circuit Court. After serving his six months behind bars, Odom will be placed on three years of supervised probation.
The sentencing follows Odom’s guilty plea last month to four counts of misconduct in office and three counts of unauthorized computer access.
Prosecutors said Odom used a law enforcement database to look up personal information on seven individuals who were not criminal suspects, including his wife, romantic partners, relatives of those partners, and a coworker.
Authorities said Odom had “no legitimate law enforcement reason” to access the information.
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Abuse of access led to additional misconduct
Odom served with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office from 2019 until his resignation in August. Investigators said he conducted multiple searches between September and December 2024, including one involving a woman identified as “Victim 4.”
After a vacation to Ocean City with Victim 4, she reported his conduct to the sheriff’s office, prompting an internal investigation.
Despite being issued a no-contact order, Odom continued to reach out to the woman through texts, emails, and social media. In March, he secretly recorded a meeting with her at a secluded location, resulting in an additional wiretapping charge.
Judge condemns abuse of authority
“You have done incalculable harm to law enforcement,” Judge Bowman said during sentencing, according to prosecutors. “You have truly dishonored the badge you used to wear.”
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III said Odom’s actions represented a serious abuse of public trust. “Law enforcement officers have access to sensitive and confidential information necessary to discharge their official duties,” Howard said. “Those who misuse that authority for corrupt reasons will be held accountable.”
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This was originally reported by Maryland Matters and comments and data used under the Creative Commons license.
Key Points
- Former deputy Donta Odom sentenced to eight years, with six months to serve, for misconduct and computer access violations
- Odom accessed police databases to look up personal information on non-suspects, including romantic partners
- Judge said Odom “dishonored the badge” and prosecutors vowed to pursue similar abuses aggressively
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