Florida Sheriff Arrests Own Daughter For Selling Meth

Each independent human being must be equally considered in the eyes of the law. A Florida sheriff showed no exemption to this rule of justice.

Franklin County Sheriff Tony A.J. Smith known for cracking down on illegal drugs arrested his own daughter last week on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine.

“When you work in law enforcement, do not take things personally,” Smith wrote on his Facebook two days after his daughter’s arrest. “There will be many challenging situations that you will face and you must rise above.”

“Meth is one of our number one priorities here at the sheriff’s office to prevent meth use and meth sales and rehabilitation,” Smith said. “And so our narcotics guys have been working a case and as a result of one arrest we made another arrest that happens to be my daughter.”

The sheriff’s 38-year-old daughter, Kristen Kent, was arrested on Monday afternoon, April 18, by deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

The arrest took place when deputies from Smith's unit conducted a “controlled buy,” that involved Smith's daughter.

“Yesterday we did a controlled buy with my daughter and she delivered 2 ounces and that’s when she was arrested,” Sheriff Smith told WMMB News.

“You think I like seeing my child in an orange jumpsuit in a jail cell? Of course not.”

“It's heartbreaking, the last person you ever want to arrest is one of your family members, especially your child - I mean it's like you can't even put it into words,” he said.

“I don't think it's anything you wish on your worst enemy to do something like this,” Smith added.

Kent was charged with trafficking methamphetamine of 14 grams or over, drug possession or use, and cocaine possession, according to the sheriff's department.

“Methamphetamine does not discriminate & neither do we. It does not matter who you are — no one is immune or exempt,” Smith wrote on Facebook. “Our hearts break over the grief meth causes all — whether you use it, sell it, or love someone who is involved with it.”