Charges dropped against LCSO deputy accused of battery following victim's statement

Two weeks after a deputy with the Lee County Sheriff's Office was charged with domestic violence and fired from the sheriff's office, the charges have been dropped.

Deputies arrested Christopher Doughty, 48, the night of July 1 after a phone call came through accusing the deputy of domestic violence. The call came through around midnight.

Following an investigation, deputies determined there was sufficient probable cause to arrest Doughty.

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He was charged with one count of battery and terminated from the agency July 2.

Doughty had been assigned to the youth services division and worked as a school resource deputy at Palm Acres Charter High School in Lehigh Acres.

He became a deputy in 2007 and was with the youth services division since 2009, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said at a news conference after the arrest.

The latest records show the court is unable to proceed with the case following the victim's latest statement.

All future court appearances were canceled Monday and charges against Doughty were dropped.

The case is closed, according to court records.

Doughty's attorney, Daniel Garza, from the Wilbur Smith, LLC law firm, declined comment Wednesday afternoon.

The News-Press asked the sheriff's office whether Doughty would be reinstated. A spokesperson said they don't have additional comment regarding Doughty's case.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Follow him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: LCSO deputy no longer faces charges in battery case, records show