An Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff Correction Lieutenant has faced disciplinary action following inappropriate interactions with a female inmate.
According to the sheriff’s office, Correction Lieutenant John Moltz engaged in multiple sexually explicit conversations with the inmate and communicated with her in areas of the facility where such interactions were not permitted.
Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley issued the statement regarding the recent disciplinary resolution involving Deputy Sheriff Correction Lieutenant John Moltz.
“Following a thorough Internal Affairs investigation, several allegations of unprofessional conduct and violations of departmental policy against Lieutenant Moltz were sustained. The investigation found that Lieutenant Moltz engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a female inmate on multiple occasions, inappropriately escorted the inmate to unauthorized areas of the facility, and deliberately exposed his ankle to display personal tattoos to the inmate. This behavior is wholly unacceptable, violates the core values of the Sheriff’s Office, and represents a serious breach of the ethical and professional standards expected of all personnel—particularly those in supervisory positions.
“Importantly, the investigation concluded that there is no credible evidence—nor any admission—of physical or sexual contact between Lieutenant Moltz and the inmate. The inmate explicitly denied any such contact during a detailed Internal Affairs interview, and Lieutenant Moltz made no admission of misconduct related to physical acts. Additionally, recent claims suggesting that an inmate was impregnated are categorically false. These rumors are entirely baseless, damaging, and inconsistent with the facts of the case.
“On April 17, Lieutenant Moltz entered into a Last Chance Agreement as part of the disciplinary process. In coordination with county legal counsel and pursuant to collective bargaining agreements—and in consideration of the fact that Lieutenant Moltz has served nearly 20 years without any prior disciplinary record—the following disciplinary actions were imposed:
• Demotion from the rank of Correction Lieutenant
• Suspension without pay for a designated period
• Restrictions prohibiting contact with female incarcerated individuals, except under emergency circumstances
• Ongoing monitoring and compliance requirements tied to continued employment
“This disciplinary resolution underscores our unwavering commitment to maintaining order, integrity, and accountability within the ranks. Let it be clearly understood: misconduct by any member of this Office—regardless of rank—will not be tolerated. Violations of policy and breaches of public trust will be met with swift and appropriate action.
In the interest of transparency, a copy of the Last Chance Agreement has been released in response to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request submitted by Syracuse.com. That document is attached to this release.
“We remain dedicated to upholding public confidence through clear communication, decisive accountability, and the strict enforcement of professional standards. The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office will continue to serve with the integrity and honor our community expects and deserves.”
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