3Mineral County resident Saverio “Sammy” Scarlata was arrested on charges of accusing him of stealing a prisoner’s medication while he was under the employment of Mineral County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Stewart Handte says the 34-year-old former deputy was taken into custody at his Hawthorne home on Tuesday, Dec. 23 after a lengthy investigation.

Scarlata was booked into the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Detention Facility in Yerington on charges of obtaining a controlled substance or prescription drug from an authorized person (felony) and false report by a public officer (gross misdemeanor).

Handte says although Scarlata was employed as a deputy at the time of the purported theft, he was subsequently terminated for unrelated personnel issues after the crime had taken place.

Bail was set at $12,500.

The case is currently being handled by the Lyon County District Attorney’s Office.