A grand jury in Ontario County has cleared a sheriff’s corrections officer of eavesdropping charges, concluding that the evidence was not sufficient to establish reasonable cause for the alleged crimes, according to new reporting by the Finger Lakes Times.
Adam Broadwell, a 20-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was initially charged with a felony count of eavesdropping, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of an eavesdropping device and official misconduct, earlier this year.
Sheriff David Cirencione had previously announced the charges in a press conference, revealing that Broadwell was accused of using an electronic hearing device to amplify and listen in on conversations while on court security duty in March 2022.
After the charges were announced, Broadwell was initially suspended without pay but later shifted to paid suspension. As the case unfolded, the decision to arrest Broadwell followed consultations with the district attorney’s office.
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