Pinellas.

But despite his enviable list of accolades, Deeson was named in a slander suit stemming from a 2014 race in which yard signs were reportedly being stolen.

The case centered on Safety Harbor Mayoral candidates Andy Steingold and Joe Ayoub. An Ayoub supporter was caught on video removing a Steingold sign from a neighbor’s yard.

The man accused of the sign theft, Jim Barge, claims the sign was on private property and he was given permission from the owners to remove Steingold’s sign he claims was placed there without authorization.

The video was given to Deeson, an investigative reporter for WTSP, amid other news that signs were being stolen. Deeson aired the story and the video of Barge removing he sign the night before the election. Ayoub ultimately lost.

Barge is accusinga search warrant based upon an affidavit insufficient on its face.  [fn. 1] The motion was granted, and the People appeal from the order setting aside the information. (Pen. Code,  1238, subd. 1.)
 The affidavit whose sufficiency is here in question stated that the affiant, a detective sergeant engaged in the investigation of illicit narcotics traffic, had been informed by a certain named juvenile that one "Dewey" had furnished marijuana and restricted dangerous drugs to said juvenile within the immediately preceding three weeks; that "Dewey" was presently dealing in narcotics at a certain address in the San Jose area; and that "Dewey" had previously dealt in narcotics at other premises described by the juvenile. The affidavit also alleged that affiant had been informed by the juvenile