In 2019, Sheriff Ana Franklin was implicated in a lawsuit alleging that she lied to Ms. Lockhart’s grandson, falsely claiming that the ‘Whistleblower Blog’ was registered in his name and had been used to commit a felony. She allegedly threatened to arrest him if he did not cooperate, leading him to install Keylogger software on Ms. Lockhart’s computer and provide information to deputies. This information was used to obtain a search warrant, resulting in the confiscation of files and devices from the Straightline office, which hindered business operations. The lawsuit also accused Sheriff Franklin of slandering Ms. Lockhart by publicly accusing her of engaging in criminal activity. The court denied Sheriff Franklin’s motion to dismiss the state-law claims, stating that her actions were not part of her official duties and thus not protected by state-law immunity.
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