Officer resigns, porn found on computer

A Lake County Sheriff's lieutenant resigned after 24 years on the job, after investigators said they found more than 5,000 pornographic images on his department-issued computer.   Lt. Nick Pallitto resigned Wednesday afternoon.

An internal investigation accuses Pallitto of looking up images of pornography and those related to foot fetishes over the course of the past two years.

Technicians found out about the porn while trying to figure out why the Clermont Sheriff's Office Substation computer system was running so slowly. They believe it's because of all the porn sites Lt. Pallitto was viewing.

A Sheriff's Office spokesman said Pallitto admitted that he searched the sites in question, but said he was still effective at his job. The spokesperson added that Pallitto was about to be fired but chose to resign. He will still collect his pension.

The resignation of the Lake County Sheriff’s lieutenant comes on the same day that an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested on domestic assault charges.

Deputy Sheriff Steven Smith, on Wednesday morning, was arrested by the Tavares Police Department. Smith is currently assigned to the Orange County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit and was hired in December 2000.

Orange County Sheriff officials say Smith has been relieved from duty with pay and has been assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.