Zach Wester, a former deputy from North Florida, has been found guilty of planting drugs on innocent drivers, forcing the victims to endure a variety of consequences that have ultimately led to a settlement of nearly seven figures.
After a daylong meeting at U.S. District Court in Pensacola last October, more than 30 individuals who had been arrested by Wester filed lawsuits and agreed to the settlement.
The settlement amounts differ based on the damages each plaintiff suffered, including loss of employment and custody of their children as a result of false arrests.
Wester had been working for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for two years before being terminated due to incriminating body-cam evidence, including the discovery of drug paraphernalia in the trunk of his patrol car.
He was found guilty on charges related to racketeering and official misconduct, resulting in his current 12 1/2-year sentence in Colorado.
The magistrate overseeing the case will require both parties to file a joint motion for dismissal regarding the specific terms within the month.
While some plaintiffs are already receiving their funds, the lawyers affiliated with the Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund have not yet commented on the details of the settlement.
Furthermore, Jackson County Sheriff Donald Edenfield did not address any queries related to this issue.
The impact on Wester’s victims is substantial, with many experiencing unemployment and grappling with child custody challenges due to wrongful arrests and incarceration based solely on false claims of meth possession.
This settlement offers essential restitution and should inspire victims of similar injustices in other cases to come forward and seek justice through legal channels.
