UPDATE SEPTEMBER 4:
The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office provided ABC 27's Kenzie Krueger with a summary of what led to the arrests. You can see the complete summary we received below:
On August 30, 2024, Detectives of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at the Wakulla County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) arrested Rebecca Whaley, 65 years of age, for violation of F.S. 817.568(5)(a) Using Personal Information via Public Record to Harass; Michael Kemp, 53 years of age, for violation of F.S. 817.568(5)(a) Using Personal Information via Public Record to Harass and F.S. 914.22(1) Tampering With A Witness; and Don Newsome, 54 years of age, for violation of F.S. 815.06(2)(a) Accessing A Computer Device Exceeding Authority, following a four month investigation conducted under case number WCSO240FF01279.
The investigation was initiated on May 7, 2024, after a victim had his personal voter registration information posted online the previous day with the intent to harass him after he was mistakenly identified as another person who regularly posted inflammatory opinions and comments online under the pseudonym "Thunder Lightening."
The investigation revealed that a man who has operated an online Facebook account for years under the pseudonym "Thunder Lightening" has reportedly posted opinions and statements with regularity which were generally counter to those of Rebecca "Becky" Whaley, who operated a Facebook page named *Wakulla Citizens," and Michael "Mike" Kemp, a Wakulla County Commissioner. "Thunder Lightening" reportedly posted that Becky Whaley was pro-growth, pro-commissioner, pro-law enforcement, and a liar, which she deemed to be personal attacks and it made her angry. "Thunder Lightening" was also reportedly regularly critical of Mike Kemp.
On March 28, 2024, a man (the victim) called the WCSO and reported that a white boxed truck had run him off the road on U.S. 319. Deputy Sheriff Don Newsome handled the complaint.
Two days later, on March 30, 2024, "Thunder Lightening" posted online a photograph of a white pickup truck, stated it had almost hit his wife in a grocery store parking lot, and solicited the identification of the truck owner. Mike Kemp subsequently solicited from Deputy Newsome the identity of the owner of the white truck. Deputy Newsome provided Mike Kemp with the name of the complainant regarding the carelessly driven white boxed truck from the incident on March 28, 2024.
Mike Kemp, after mistakenly believing he had identified "Thunder Lightening" (the complainant from the incident on March 30, 2024), provided the name of the complainant from the incident from March 28, 2024, to a colleague. On April 23, 2024, Mike Kemp's colleague researched the name on a subscription service named WebElect and obtained a printout which delineated the name and voter demographic data of the complainant from the incident on March 28, 2024. WebElect is a subscription service for candidates who run for public office to utilize in identifying registered voters for canvassing and mailers.
On May 6, 2024, at 8:04 a.m., Becky Whaley sent an iMessage to Mike Kemp which read, "Tell me that Thunder guy's real name about to bust him out." Mike Kemp responded with the WebElect printout bearing the name and voter demographic data of the man Mike Kemp believed to be "Thunder Lightening." In fact, it was not him; rather, it was the victim.
On May 6, 2024, at 12:28 p.m., Becky Whaley posted on the "Wakulla Citizens" Facebook page a WebElect printout bearing the name, date of birth, mailing address, voter ID number, and party affiliation of the victim. The Facebook post read, "Introducing Thunder Lightening to you all from public records, registered to vote in 2022 according to the records and data shows he's never voted! ... Show your face and own your truth. You still have time to register to run for office!"
On May 6, 2024, at 10:23 p.m., the victim's wife sent a Facebook message to Becky Whaley telling her to remove the post. The post was not removed until the following day, May 7, 2024, at 6:20 a.m.
On May 7, 2024, at 6:38 a.m., the victim called the WCSO to file a complaint about this matter. At 7:39 a.m., a Deputy Sheriff arrived at the victim's residence to take the report. At 8:19 a.m., Mike Kemp telephoned Deputy Newsome. At 8:29 a.m., Deputy Newsome, on his day off, researched the WCSO's case management system and accessed information about the victim. At 8:35 a.m., Deputy Newsome telephoned Mike Kemp. At 8:45 a.m., Mike Kemp drove by the victim's residence in his truck while the Deputy Sheriff was taking the report. Mike Kemp's truck was captured on the Deputy Sheriff's body worn camera as it drove by.
After the initial report was taken by the Deputy Sheriff, the investigation was assigned to Detectives of the CID. During the investigation, Detectives collected digital evidence, conducted multiple interviews, conducted multiple interrogations, exploited telephone records, exploited computer records, and coordinated closely with the State Attorney's Office.
On August 30, 2024, the WCSO obtained arrest warrants for Rebecca Whaley, Michael Kemp, and Don Newsome. All three were arrested by authority of the arrest warrants and booked into the Wakulla County Jail.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office says that Wakulla County Commissioner Mike Kemp was arrested in August and has since been released.
Kemp was booked into the Wakulla County Jail August 30. Kemp is accused of violating Florida Statute 817.568 (5A) which is using personal information via public record to harass. He’s also accused of violating Florida Statute 914.22 (1) tampering with a witness.
WCSO said Kemp was arrested with two other people. According to the sheriff's office Kemp and the others arrested had mistaken the victim for someone else who was making comments online against him.
WCSO said Kemp provided a printout with the name, date of birth, address, voter ID number and party affiliation of the victim to a woman who shared this information online.
Tuesday, ABC 27's Kenzie Krueger contacted Wakulla County's Public Information and asked the following:
- What is the protocol when someone in this role has been arrested?
- Is there a suspension?
- Could he (Kemp) be forced out of his seat early?
The Wakulla County PIO responded to Krueger's email with, "No comment."
Kemp's time serving as a commissioner is winding down. Valerie Russell was elected to replace him the the District 3 seat. We reached out to Kemp on Friday about the arrest, and he did not return our calls.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
