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Report Finds Deputy Forged Signatures On DUIs

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

TAMPA - A Hillsborough County deputy forged signatures or initials of three sergeants on at least two DUI reports, according to an Internal Affairs summary report obtained today by The Tampa Tribune.

At least one DUI case Deputy Justin Speaks worked was dropped as a result of his actions, Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said.

The Aug. 15 summary report said Speaks committed the following rule violations: three counts of commission of a felony – forgery, three counts of commission of a felony – uttering a forged instrument, and one count of conduct unbecoming a member of the sheriff's office.

It was unclear Wednesday whether Speaks has been disciplined by the sheriff's office.

"Deputy Speaks was advised the State Attorney's Office is not going to pursue prosecution on some of his DUI cases as a result of the criminal charges presented to the SAO against him," the report states. "He agreed his actions have had an adverse affect upon the cases and would destroy public respect in the Sheriff's Office.

"Deputy Speaks testified, 'It was … despicable conduct … I am sorry for any discredit that I have brought to the Sheriff's Office…' Deputy speaks further said, 'I understand there would be some issues of trustworthiness…' and agreed his acts would cause someone to doubt his integrity and honesty."

Speaks forged Sgt. William Porter's name and initials on a DUI report this year, deputies say. That case was against Lee Anne Bodzenski, 32, of Valrico, and wasn't prosecuted because of Speaks, Bondi said.

Bodzenski had been charged March 30 with DUI with property damage or personal injury. Her blood-alcohol level tested at .165 and .162, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Web site. Florida law presumes a driver impaired at .08.

Speaks previously had forged Sgt. Ron Harrison's initials on a different DUI report and Sgt. Richard Figueredo's initials to an HCSO supplement, investigators say. Harrison, 55, died on Aug. 15, 2007, after being shot while en route to a DUI checkpoint near State Road 60 and Kings Avenue.

Speaks, 35, was hired by the sheriff's office in October 2003, department records show.

According to the internal affairs report:

Speaks' DUI report about Bodzenski was returned to his district April 17 by sheriff's office records staffers because Speaks had failed to place his own initials next to his typed name. The report and memorandum were given to Porter, Speaks' supervisor.

Porter saw the report and knew his name and initials had been forged.

Speaks was on sick leave that week. On April 25, the report was removed from Porter's desk. Porter told investigators Speaks "would have been the only deputy to return to the office that evening."

Porter spoke with Speaks on April 30 about the report.

Speaks denied wrongdoing.

About an hour later, Speaks said his wife, Linda Speaks, had signed Porter's name to the report.

Handwriting samples of Justin and Linda Speaks were analyzed, and Justin Speaks appeared to have
the same handwriting as that on the forged information.

Linda Speaks, who was a sheriff's office Central Breath Technician, denied participating in forgery.

During a criminal interview, Justin Speaks told investigators he had forged Porter's name and initials and that he had forged information from Harrison and Figueredo in the past.

Reached at her home Wednesday, Linda Speaks told the Tribune her husband's status with the sheriff's office is unclear and that she no longer works for the agency.

Reporters George Wilkens and Ray Reyes contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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