The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office announced that Alexander Morales, 27, was sentenced after entering a plea resolving charges stemming from an April 2024 incident in Key West involving unlawful entry, property damage and the misuse of law enforcement computer systems.
On March 12, Circuit Judge Mark Jones withheld adjudication and sentenced Morales to 36 months of probation on burglary and computer-related offenses and six months of probation on a criminal mischief charge, with all probationary terms running concurrently. As part of the sentence, Morales must also serve 10 weekends in the Monroe County Detention Center beginning April 10, reporting to custody Friday evenings and being released Sunday evenings.
Morales entered a plea of no contest to burglary of a structure, criminal mischief and two counts of unlawful use of computers, systems, networks or electronic devices. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Michael Tetelman.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of April 15, 2024, in Key West. Officers with the Key West Police Department responded to a report that Morales had opened a bedroom window and used his cellphone to record two individuals inside the room without their consent. During the incident, Morales pushed aside and damaged the window blinds while attempting to film through the window and repeatedly demanded that the victim come outside to speak with him.
Investigators determined that Morales had previously been in a relationship with the victim and approached the residence through a side gate before opening the bedroom window and recording the occupants inside. At the time of the incident, Morales was employed as a deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and had driven to the location in a marked Monroe County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle.
The investigation also revealed that Morales improperly accessed law enforcement databases outside the scope of his official duties. A review of Monroe County Sheriff’s Office SmartCop audit logs showed that Morales conducted multiple database queries through the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center systems while off duty. These searches included vehicle registration and driver’s license checks related to an individual who was present inside the residence at the time of the incident. Investigators determined the database searches were conducted without a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with access to powerful tools and sensitive information, and those systems exist strictly for legitimate law enforcement purposes. When that authority is used for personal reasons, it violates the law and must be addressed,” Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield stated. “The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the seriousness of that misconduct and reinforces that those entrusted with authority are expected to follow the law.”
The court further ordered that Morales have no contact with the victim or the victim’s residence and complete a mental health evaluation within 90 days. Morales was also ordered to pay $788 in total court costs, fines and restitution associated with the case.
