Charges against former Fernandina Beach police officer accused of date rape dropped

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — UPDATE, 12/1/2022: The charges against John Finley have been dropped, according to court records.

Finley was originally charged with two counts of sexual battery, possession of a controlled substance and battery.

The State Attorney’s Office said it is declining to prosecute Finley after reviewing the evidence.

NOTE: The video above the story originally aired on Action News Jax on June 6, 2022

Original story from 6/6/2022 below:

A Fernandina Beach police officer is out of the job and behind bars after an individual accused him of date rape.

The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office was contacted on May 30 by an alleged victim who said they were drugged and raped in his apartment last week by John Finley, 33, according to a release from FBPD.

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Finley was most recently employed by the department on March 20 after working with the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, and had previously served with FBPD.

A neighbor who lived across the street said she was shocked, as this did not match the Finley she knew.

Read: Fernandina Beach police officer fired after being arrested on sexual battery charge

“It’s very upsetting, because they were sweet people. We enjoyed having them (in the neighborhood),” Mary Martino said. “My neighbor and I have been here for 18, 19 years, so it’s always good when you get nice people in the neighborhood.”

According to a police report, a victim told police that the 33-year-old poured a drink in his apartment, and after a few sips they felt “paralyzed” and “really sleepy.”

Read: New trial starts for men on death row for burying Jacksonville couple alive in 2005

The individual told detectives that Finley then made them perform oral sex despite being told no, according to the report. He also took a picture of the victim with no clothes on, which police said they found in his phone.

Detectives said a police K9 sniffed out six plastic cups with a white substance, which later tested as amphetamine. According to the report, the victim also tested positive for amphetamine.

Read: Jacksonville officer accused of sending nude photos to teens now facing federal charges

Investigators found “probable cause” to charge then-officer John Finley, 33, with battery and sexual battery in relation to the incident, which took place while Finley was off-duty.

FBPD said it conducted an investigation and “based on the details that led to the arrest,” the City of Fernandina Beach decided to terminate Finley’s employment.

He is now in the Duval County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

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