Former Deputy Matthew Bondi granted bond

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A former deputy in the Pasco County Sheriff's Office was granted bond Thursday after he was accused of traveling to South Florida to meet with a boy.

Matthew Bondi, 22, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service Aug. 4 on suspicion of enticing a minor.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said it immediately fired Bondi after his arrest due to his probationary status. Bondi had served as a deputy with the department for less than a year.

"We hold ourselves accountable for our actions," Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Lurana Snow set Bondi's bond at $200,000.

Prosecutors claimed Bondi was a potential danger to himself and others, but Snow said the evidence presented by federal prosecutors did not show that Bondi was a sexual predator, and that pretrial detention was not warranted in the case.

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