A Richmond County narcotics investigator resigned Monday after allegations surfaced that he had a romantic relationship with an informant.
Sheriff Ronnie Strength said the informant's attorney contacted the department on Feb. 1. The informant, whose name is being withheld by authorities, claimed to have had a relationship with Investigator Daniel Stenger, which began in December.
Strength said the woman had been providing information to investigators in connection to a meth bust in August. The informant's boyfriend was arrested in that bust.
Stenger was not the lead investigator on the case but he had been contributing to the investigation since October.
Strength said he did not think the allegations would derail the drug case against the woman's boyfriend.
"We'll be looking at it with the district attorney but we don't think that it will have any bearing in proceeding with his prosecution," Strength said.
Stenger has been with the sheriff's department for 13 years.
WOW Stenger , 13 years down the drain. I wouldn't have resigned if they didn't have evidence.
It always amazes me when this stuff happens. You're a law enforcement officer, and you decide that it's a good idea to get involved in a "romantic relationship" with an informant?? DUH!
What gets me is the investigator's name is published in the paper for all to see just based on allegations, but the informants name is kept secret. What if the investigator isn't guilty....his name is still plastered all over the paper and his reputation is ruined. And when does an informant go get a lawyer and report unethical behavior. Sounds like she got ticked off. Either there was a romantic relationship and he called it off or either her boyfriend isn't getting the kind of deal maybe she thought he was from the drug bust.
Oops, sorry for the duplicate post. Too much coffee this morning.
Gosh what a shock to see this happen to a sheriff's deputy. I guess there will be fewer fake obstruction of an officer charges with Stenger off the force. (If you're familiar with the court system in Richmond Co, you know what I'm talking about...)
Justus4; other than your racial slant, I find myself agreeing with you today. I would bet this detective does have more skeletons waiting to fall out of the closet.
He wasn't too far under the cover, the informant was able to identify him. Do you know what that means?.....
justus4...I think the charges are coming. Just wait.
Once again! Right under the Sheriff's nose! And the informant's Attorney had to tell the Sheriff!
Sleeping with the snitches usually have you swimming with the fishes! lol
Stenger has done nothing that has not gone on at the SO for as long as I can remember, and not just in the Narcotics division. All of the higher ranking officials used this practice "back in the day"....
LEO's used to be given the opportunity to resign instead of being fired and losing their POST certification. No doubt the SO waited until their investigation was finished and the resignation decision was made before making this public. It would have been remiss to delay reporting if the deputy was criminally charged. And why in the world would they publish the informant's name? To put her life in danger from whomever she's reporting on?
It's funny to see justus licking his greasy chops waiting to see if a white deputy will be charged with something else, especially since the Sheriff doesn't think the deputy's indiscretion will affect the case. I didn't see any indication of charges for violating the public's trust, such as those who are charged with taking bribes, misuse of office, etc.
Good way to get your boyfriend out of prison. I'm just sayin'. And he fell for it.
InChristLove -- Um, the informant was probably not identified because she is still undercover and providing information to the police?
MrsD, I like your avatar. Iknowjack, something tells me you are going to have a lot of followers....
This is nothing new!!! This one just happen to get caught!!!!
Caught at what, for heaven's sake? An affair? There is nothing criminal about this, and it wouldn't even be in the news if any of you got caught in something similar, even if it got you fired.
What is the point of publicly humiliating this man's family? What possible good has it done the Sheriff's Department, the case, or any of us, to have this man's indiscretion and betrayal of his family published (and broadcast) for all to see?
This isn't journalism, it's tabloid gossip. And I'm disgusted at the RCSD and the news media in Augusta for their cavalier attitude about an innocent family's pain when their loved one hasn't committed and is being charged with a crime. It's just sickening.
Now if we got rid of every investigator who did this just wondering how many would be left...also he has a very innocent smile & face..shouda made them prove these allegations...
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