A former Sumter County sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced in a case in which he had been accused of stealing guns from a woman.
Deputy William Rappleyea, who had been with the sheriff’s office for more than a decade, resigned his position in October after his arrest on two counts of grand theft of a firearm and two counts of violation of the pawnbroker’s act.
The 42-year-old deputy was frequently seen at public events and had a high profile in The Villages.
A woman reported to the sheriff’s office that she had loaned six guns to Rappleyea, who was teaching concealed weapons classes. The woman said she had been friends with Rappleyea for several years.
It was discovered that Rappleyea had on Aug. 31 pawned a Sig Sauer model 2022 firearm at Nordic Pawn in Wildwood. At the time, he provided a copy of his driver’s license and received $300.
On Oct. 10, Rappleyea pawned a Rock Island .45-caliber firearm at Family Jewelry and Pawn in Bushnell. He again provided a copy of his driver’s license. He received $200.
Rappleyea admitted to pawning five guns over the past year, according to an arrest affidavit from the sheriff’s office. He said he pawned the firearms to pay his personal debts such as phone bills, electricity bills and insurance.
This past week in Sumter County Court, Rappleyea pleaded no contest to a charge of dealing in stolen property. Other charges were dismissed in exchange for his plea.
He has been placed on probation for three years and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. He is also relinquishing his criminal justice certifications.
