Ep 168: The Trial of Deputy Zachary Wester

Court Junkie

PodcastOne

True Crime, News, Talk Radio, Government

4.8 • 8.6K Ratings

🗓️ 9 August 2021

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 2018, Jackson County Deputy Zachary Wester was suspended, after an internal investigation was conducted into his body camera footage. Later, he would be charged with planting drugs on various community members during traffic stops. Was he guilty, or was there an innocent explanation? Sponsors in this episode: Straight Talk Wireless - With Straight Talk Wireless, you can get a Samsung Galaxy A51 for just $199. Plus, get the $45 unlimited talk, text, and data plan with NO contract on America’s best networks for up to 50% less. NetSuite - NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind financing program when you go to NetSuite.com/COURT. LifeLock - Join today by going to LifeLock.com/COURT to save up to 25% off your first year. Best Fiends - Download Best Fiends FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Jordan Harbinger Show - Search for The Jordan Harbinger Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. This episode was researched and written by Polly Kotowski, with Law & Crime. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @PollyKotowski. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie.

Transcript

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0:00.0	How's it going?
0:01.0	Hey man, Deputy Western with Jetskin Sheriff's Office.
0:05.0	Reason for my traffic stop.
0:06.0	Just doing a routine check of the tag is not coming back with anything for this tag.
0:10.0	Do you have any registration or anything?
0:12.0	That would help me out just a little bit.
0:16.0	28 year old Jackson County Deputy Sheriff Zachary Wester typically made up to about 14 different
0:22.7	traffic stops per shift.
0:25.2	Each one starting off much like what you just heard.
0:28.4	He even warned one of those he stopped to be careful who you trust.
0:33.4	But you've got to be careful who you let around your personal belongings, you know.
0:37.4	And, um, and, yeah, and unfortunately a lot of people that you think you can trust can.
0:44.9	But after just over a year with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in Florida, Zachary
0:49.8	Wester was under investigation himself.
0:54.4	General affairs would review his body cameras.
0:57.6	They would find 12 different instances where they believed Deputy Wester planted drugs
1:02.9	on people in the community.
1:05.2	The evidence, in this case, has shown you that the defendant used his position as a deputy
1:09.7	sheriff make traffic stops on 12 members of this community and plant methamphetamine in
1:14.8	their cars, methamphetamine and paraphernalia.
1:17.6	He then arrested these people and he falsified sworn reports, which were official records
1:24.0	with the sheriff's office.
	...

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