By Staff Report
On Thursday afternoon, August 31, Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year-old Laura Lee Cates, of Sunny Hills.
Cates is an employee with the Florida Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Office in Chipley.
According to a WCSO press release, reports allege an incident occurred on August 30 between Cates and a victim of a pending felony court case. The victim stated Cates told them if they did not accept the plea deal in the case, Cates would file criminal charges against the victim in an unrelated incident which according to WCSO, does not exist to their knowledge.
Cates is charged with unlawfully and intentionally threatening a victim to file criminal charges against them to persuade this person who is a victim of a second-degree felony case for a lighter plea deal for the defendant.
“I will not tolerate a victim of any criminal case to be threatened or intimidated,†said Sheriff Kevin Crews.
KINSLEY COOK 
GARRETT VALCOURT