Cody Williams, a 17-year-old student from Clay High School in Florida was arrested and charged with sexual battery of a minor last August. He was forced to spend 35 days in the jail. The only problem is that he was the wrong Cody Williams.
According to Yahoo! News, a 12-year-old girl reported to the Clay Sheriff's department that she had "had sex with an older boy."
The girl told the investigators what the boy looked like and where he went to school. The police officers then sought Cody Lee Williams at the school the victim had reported and arrested him. He was charged by the State Attorney's office as an adult.
Deputy Sheriff Johnny Hawkins apparently searched for the teen suspect without any photographs and made an arrest without showing the victim a photo of the Williams he had arrested.
“The result was an innocent man was accused of a terrible crime he didn’t commit. Arresting an innocent person is something we fear far more than letting a guilty person get away. I extend to Cody Lee Williams my apology for this error and we will seek to make things right for him," said Deputy Sheriff Johnny Hawkins.
The Florida Times-Union reported that Officer Hawkins was suspended for 10 days without pay and was transferred from investigator to patrol officer for his wrongful doings.
Three other officers who took part in the investigation and arrest were ordered counseling.
Cody Lee Williams has been released and charges were dropped. The arrested teen has hired an attorney and plans on filing a lawsuit with the Clay Sheriff's department.