JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. — A former Jackson County deputy accused of planting drugs on unsuspecting drivers is now facing nearly two dozen new federal charges.
Zachary Wester allegedly planted drugs in people's cars during what seemed to be routine traffic stops, resulting in more than 100 people being wrongly charged.
According to court records, Wester plead not guilty to 52 charges related to official misconduct, perjury, fabrication of evidence, possession of drugs, and false imprisonment. Now he's facing 23 new charges in connection to the false arrests.
In most of the incidents reported in the affidavit, Wester's body cam was either not recording, or only recorded part of the stop, whether that was the initial connection with the driver, or after a search of the car had already started.
Investigators believe that Wester placed drugs and other paraphernalia inside of the cars when his camera was off.
If Wester is found guilty of all charges, he could face about 13 and a half years in state prison.
