VERO BEACH — An Indian River County sheriff’s deputy — the son of a county commissioner — was arrested Monday on felony charges of stalking and misusing agency computers after authorities said he targeted a woman he met online by accessing her personal information through department databases and driving near her home while on duty.
Samuel Marcus Earman, 32, who had served with the sheriff’s office for about a decade, was fired earlier in the day and booked into jail on a $30,000 bond, according to court records and a statement from Sheriff Eric Flowers.
The arrest stemmed from a complaint filed in early October by the woman, who told investigators she feared Earman’s persistent contact could escalate into something more dangerous.
Authorities executed a search warrant on Earman’s personal cellphone, uncovering what Flowers described as “disturbing” messages sent to multiple people, along with evidence of cyberstalking through texts despite the woman’s clear rejection.
A 30-page arrest affidavit detailed how Earman used the sheriff’s office system to look up the victim’s address and other details, then ventured outside his assigned patrol zone to circle her residence.
During an evening news conference, Flowers called it a “terrible day” for the agency but stressed the importance of holding those in positions of trust accountable. “Whether you’re a doctor or a deputy or anybody in a trusted position, we’re going to hold you accountable,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. We’re going to make sure that there’s justice for these victims.”
Investigators believe there may be additional victims, based on the phone’s contents and patterns of outreach via social media or traffic stops.
Flowers urged anyone who had unsettling interactions with Earman to come forward, noting that a similar recent case involving a local doctor had drawn reports from at least 20 people.
Earman, the son of County Commissioner Joe Earman, had no prior record of similar misconduct, though officials cited minor internal issues during his 10-year tenure that began in 2015. He remained in custody Monday night ahead of a court appearance.
