Volusia sheriff melts badge of ex-deputy charged with solicitation to commit prostitution

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a comment from Stephen Corbin's attorney.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office melted down former deputy Stephen Corbin's badge Friday, more than a month after Corbin was accused of threatening to arrest two women if they didn’t engage in sex acts with him.

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said after Corbin's arrest that the ex-deputy had disgraced the Sheriff's Office and his badge would be melted down. The Sheriff's Office posted a video of the badge being melted down last week.

Corbin's defense attorney, Michael Lambert, took a rhetorical torch to Chitwood, calling the stunt "childish."

Corbin was in plain clothes but driving a marked patrol car at the time, according to Daytona Beach Police. He resigned after police began investigating the case.

Corbin, 40, was charged with two counts each of bribery by a public servant, battery, false imprisonment, and solicitation to commit prostitution, according to Daytona Beach Police.

Corbin was arrested May 15 and released from the Volusia County Branch Jail the next day after posting $90,000 bond.

His arraignment is set for July 2 before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn.

Corbin’s defense attorney, Michael Lambert, entered a written plea of not guilty on behalf of Corbin on May 17 when, among other motions, he also entered a motion to dismiss the charges.

Corbin has waived his presence at pre-trial hearings.

The State Attorney's Office has not made a filing decision yet on the charges, according to court records.

The investigation began when a woman contacted Daytona Beach Police last month. The woman, whose age was not provided, said she was approached in the South Ridgewood corridor by a man in plain clothes but driving a Volusia Sheriff's Office patrol car.

The woman told police that the man, later identified as Corbin, held her against her will and verbally threatened to arrest her if she did not engage "in a sexual act," police stated. Corbin released the woman after she agreed to show him her breasts, according to a charging affidavit.

Police identified Corbin as the suspect.

The second woman said she got into the deputy's vehicle. The driver, later identified as Corbin, asked her if she wanted to make some money but she told him she did not do that, the affidavit stated.

Corbin told her she could make some money and he could give her a place to stay and shower. But she said no. Corbin then grabbed her hand and tried to force it to his genitals but she pulled away, the affidavit stated. She said she asked Corbin to let her out of the vehicle but he refused and she tried the door and it was locked.

She said she gave Corbin directions to the Sunset Inn so it would be on video when he dropped her off. Once he dropped her off she walked back to Segrave Street and saw Corbin in the Ford Taurus patrol car drive back. Corbin tried to get her to go back inside but she heard people yelling at her not to get in the car. She said Corbin opened the passenger door but she slammed it shut and he sped off.

Stephen Corbin's attorney: 'Childish, immature stunt'

Lambert blasted Chitwood for the badge burning.

“Childish, immature stunt. He who exalted himself shall be humbled. There is not one of us who is flawless, despite his posturing otherwise. Just like the tragedy at Sugar Mill elementary, he wants to stick his face and voice everywhere.

"As a satirical aside, we all get to say how fortunate we are to have lived in the time of Chitwood — the only person in history to date that can cast the first stone.

"When we get all the paperwork and able to do discovery, we will have a better idea of where, if anywhere, Mr. Corbin's case is headed.

The carnival barker has consumed too much of his snake oil.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia sheriff melts disgraced ex-deputy Stephen Corbin's badge