MARION COUNTY-

A Marion County deputy was arrested on Wednesday accused of passing letters to an inmate.
The letters were loves notes between the deputy and a female inmate.

Francisco Javier Perez will face six counts of introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, which is a third degree felony.
An investigation revealed that over several weeks, Perez passed letters to an inmate.
Investigators found the letters in the inmate's cell and they discovered Perez had a relationship with her during the month of February.
Major Don Maines with the Sheriff's Office said these types of crimes are taken very seriously.
     

"As part of their certification process in the academy they would have received exclusive training with regard to the things they can and con not do, but specifically letters and correspondences considered contraband is against the law," said Maines.

 Sheriff Chris Blair left this statement in a press release.
"Our people are held to a higher standard and the evidence shows Perez failed those standards in a criminal way," said Maines.

Perez was an employee with the Marion County Sheriff's Office for five years, but late this afternoon we learned Perez resigned upon his arrest.
His bond is set at $2,000.