Sheriff Marcos Lopez accused of violating Florida record law

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is scheduled to be in court later this year—after the State Attorney’s office said Lopez failed to comply with public records law.

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According to a court summon filed--prosecutors said Lopez published a photograph depicting the photo of 13-year-old Madeline Soto’s body.

WFTV reported on this back in March.

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The photo was posted on Lopez’s personal Instagram page less than 24 hours after law enforcement found Soto’s body in a rural area outside St Cloud.

The disturbing photo showed a body in the woods.

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At first, Lopez apologized and said he accidentally shared an image.

Later, in an interview with our radio partners at WDBO, Lopez said the body in the picture-- was not that of the teen.

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Florida law bans the public release of photos showing the body of a minor without a family’s permission.

Lopez is scheduled to be in court Dec. 20 for a non-criminal hearing.

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