A well-known deputy with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested after he pawned a woman’s guns to help pay for his personal expenses.
Deputy William Rappleyea, who had been with the sheriff’s office for more than a decade, resigned his position Tuesday morning after his arrest Monday afternoon on two counts of grand theft of a firearm and two counts of violation of the pawnbroker’s act.
The 42-year-old deputy was most recently assigned to the Community Outreach Division. He was frequently seen at public events.
A woman went to the sheriff’s office Monday to report that last year she had loaned six guns to Rappleyea, who was teaching concealed weapons classes. The woman said she has been friends with Rappleyea for several years.
It was discovered that Rappleyea had on Aug. 31 pawned a Sig Sauer model 2022 firearm at Nordic Pawn in Wildwood. At the time, he provided a copy of his driver’s license and received $300.
On Oct. 10, Rappleyea pawned a Rock Island .45-caliber firearm at Family Jewelry and Pawn in Bushnell. He again provided a copy of his driver’s license. He received $200.
Rappleyea admitted to pawning five guns over the past year, according to an arrest affidavit from the sheriff’s office. He said he pawned the firearms to pay his personal debts such as phone bills, electricity bills and insurance.
He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center where bond was set at $6,000.
