Tomlinson fired from sheriff’s office

John Mitchell Tomlinson has been fired from his position as lieutenant with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Wendell Hall terminated Tomlinson May 6, following an internal investigation into allegations of child abuse.

Tomlinson was arrested March 9 and charged with 120 counts of sexual battery on a child between the ages of 12 and 18, a first-degree felony. He plead not guilty at an arraignment hearing on April 20.

Since his arrest, Tomlinson had been on administrative leave while awaiting his trial from a Walton County Jail cell.

The internal investigation revealed that his actions warranted termination because According to a sheriff's office press released, Tomlinson had violated two SRSO General Orders, which stipulate that sheriff's office employees cannot commit a felony offense, among others, as well as "not engage in any conduct that constitutes a gross violation of conduct unbecoming" of a deputy.
Tomlinson has two days to request a predetermination hearing to refute the allegations of gross misconduct.  After that deadline, Tomlinson has ten days to request a hearing before the Civil Service board to refute the termination.

Tomlinson is due back in court for a docket hearing July 8 and later for his trial July 12.