Sheriff's Deputy Arrested For Sexting With Teen

A Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputy faces prison on charges that he exchanged naked photos with a 17-year-old girl.

John Dwight Scheiding’s wife suspected a sexual relationship between her 28-year-old husband and the high school student in April after she found text messages between the pair on an iPad she shared with her husband. She turned the iPad over to his employer, according to charges filed against Scheiding.

State police investigated and said evidence from the device showed that the deputy and teen exchanged sexual photos; in one instance, according to the charges, Scheiding exchanged sexually explicit messages while he was working a night shift for the department.

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Robert Cooney filed charges of possession of child sexually abusive material, two counts of distributing obscene material to a minor, neglect of duty and use of a computer to commit a crime against the Traverse City resident.
Scheiding, who is scheduled to be arraigned today (Tuesday), allegedly began frequently texting the girl just before she turned 16 and later escalated his pursuit by becoming more flirtatious and suggesting they exchange nude pics, according to the charges.

Scheiding, who has been a deputy since 2014, is on paid administrative leave pending the investigation, according to a department statement.