Former Lubbock County deputy arrested, charged with distribution of confidential information
A former Lubbock County Sheriff's Office deputy who was arrested after being charged with distributing confidential information has been released on bond.
According to LCSO, around 9 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2024, the office was made aware of a potential crime involving deputy Derek Johnson.
LCSO's Criminal Investigation Unit conducted an investigation, placing Johnson on administrative leave that same day. A day later, Johnson was fired, and LCSO presented the criminal case to the Lubbock District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
On Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m., the LCSO was notified of an active warrant for Johnson's arrest. LCSO's Warrant Division was able to locate Johnson at 6002 Slide Road — the South Plains Mall — around 12:20 p.m. and place him under arrest.
According to LCSO, Johnson was taken to the Lubbock County Detention Center, where he was charged with distribution of confidential information. Johnson was released around 3:34 p.m. on a $1,000 bond.
What is a distribution of confidential information charge?
According to the Texas Government Code § 552.352 — someone who is charged with distribution of confidential information if that person is an officer or a government employee who has:
uses the confidential information for a purpose other than the purpose for which the information was received or for a purpose unrelated to the law that permitted the officer or employee to obtain access to the information, including solicitation of political contributions or solicitation of clients
permits inspection of the confidential information by a person who is not authorized to inspect the information or
discloses the confidential information to a person who is not authorized to receive the information.
According to the code, the offense is considered a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $1,000 or confinement in the county jail for not more than six months or both the fine and confinement.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Former Lubbock County sheriff deputy arrested, released on bond