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An 18-year veteran of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office spent years on the other side of the badge — investigating fraud. On Friday, September 4, Corporal Donald Valverde, 37, was booked into jail as a suspect in a case involving a minor.
The charges: two counts of felony counts and one count of offenses involving a minor. Investigators say the child was known to Valverde through a custodial relationship, and that the offenses happened off duty over a period of time.
Sheriff Chris Nocco said the details “churned our stomachs” and called Valverde “devious and evil.” According to the sheriff’s office, Valverde confessed — then begged deputies to let him take his own life rather than face his former colleagues. Instead, they booked him, and the sheriff’s office fired him the same day.
Each count carries up to 15 years in prison. The sheriff’s office says the child is safe.
Valverde had been with Pasco County since 2015, rising from patrol to corporal, and at one point worked fraud and special-victims casework. The sheriff’s office says there were prior domestic-related inquiries involving him over the years, but none were substantiated.
Valverde is the second Pasco-connected lawman charged in a case involving a minor in three weeks: former NYPD officer and Pasco deputy David Agosto was indicted in Hernando County in August on six felony counts involving children.
The case is being handled by the state attorney’s office. Court records had not shown a first appearance as of the weekend — the next realistic date is Tuesday, September 8.
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The sheriff did not mince words
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, briefing reporters the same day, called the allegations “absolutely horrendous” and described the man who spent years investigating fraud as “devious and evil.” According to the sheriff, Valverde confessed when confronted — and, per Nocco, asked to take his own life rather than face his colleagues.
The charges carry serious weight: each of the three felonies is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Investigators have released only one detail about how the suspect knew the child — a so-called custodial relationship. The agency says the child is safe, and that the abuse happened off duty, over a period of time.
An 18-year career, ended by lunchtime
Valverde joined the sheriff’s office in 2015-era patrols after 18 years in law enforcement, rising to corporal in the logistical division after years working financial crimes and offender-registry casework. By Friday evening — the same day the sheriff’s office learned of the allegations — that career was over. He was fired before the booking photo was taken.
The case is developing, and prosecution will have to prove every charge in court. He is accused, not convicted.
