A former Volusia County deputy who was arrested last year on allegations that he held a homeless woman in a patrol car against her will and threatened to arrest her if she refused to engage in a sex act has been sentenced to six months in prison.
On Thursday, February 20, 41-year-old Stephen Corbin pleaded no contest to unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior. He was sentenced to a total of 180 days in Volusia County Jail, with credit for two days already served, followed by 10 years of probation.
As a result of the plea, adjudication is being withheld, which means that Corbin will not have a conviction on his record following the successful completion of his jail sentence and probation.
In addition, Volusia County Court records show that prosecutors dismissed a count of solicitation to commit prostitution due to Corbin’s plea.
An investigation into Corbin initially began after a homeless woman contacted the Daytona Beach Police Department on May 13, 2024, and reported an alleged sexual assault involving an off-duty VCSO deputy.
The woman advised that the deputy was wearing “plain clothes,” and he was operating a marked patrol car belonging to the sheriff’s office, according to DBPD.
The deputy was later identified as Corbin.
The woman alleged that Corbin held her against her will and verbally threatened to arrest her if she failed to engage in a sexual act. DBPD stated that the woman was able to exit the patrol vehicle, and she contacted the police department.
An investigation was immediately launched by DBPD, and officers arrested Corbin on May 15, 2024.
Once Corbin was booked into Volusia County Jail, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood “immediately began the process of terminating (his) employment,” according to VCSO.
Corbin began his employment with VCSO in May of 2015. Rather than facing termination, he tendered his resignation.
“To say I’m disappointed in (Corbin’s) behavior is an understatement,” said Sheriff Chitwood on May 15, 2024. “His actions not only discredit his own name, but tarnish the Sheriff’s Office badge and the reputation of our entire organization.
“Like any profession, ours hires from the human race. We don’t have the technology to detect each person’s character flaws, assess their integrity or predict all their future conduct.
“We do have a responsibility to act decisively when someone’s character falls short of the public’s expectations. This person will not be a deputy sheriff in our community, and his badge will be melted down so it won’t represent this agency in the future.”