Justine Lopez-Rodriguez, a 32-year-old Pasco County Sheriff's deputy and school resource officer, lost his job following accusations of sending a Snapchat photo of skeletal remains to a 13-year-old student. Although arrested on felony evidence tampering charges, the case against him was dropped. The incident occurred at Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel.
Lopez-Rodriguez worked as a deputy with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office and served as a security detail officer at Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel in Florida. A spokesperson confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times that he was immediately fired after his arrest on March 13, 2026. The student reported that Lopez-Rodriguez added her on Snapchat in late January or February 2026, initially engaging in casual conversations about food, basketball, and working out, according to an arrest affidavit. On March 1, he allegedly sent her a photo depicting skeletal remains in a wooded area near a river, showing a rib cage, red shirt, and blue pants. Investigators recognized the scene from a recent skeletal remains case where Lopez-Rodriguez had been the primary deputy on site. When questioned, Lopez-Rodriguez initially denied sending photos but admitted to taking them after they were found on his phone. He claimed he sent one to his wife and said it was possible the student received it. He also admitted deleting the Snapchat app amid an ongoing investigation, leading to the tampering charge. The case was dropped on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with no further punishment listed in court records, though Lopez-Rodriguez had been out on bail.
