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'I'm scared to death of him,' wife says

The wife of a deputy accused in an attempted arson case wins extension of a protection order to one year.

By MICHAEL KRUSE
Published June 28, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - The wife of the Hernando County sheriff's deputy accused of attempted arson was in court Monday.

Constance Spiese had a temporary injunction for protection against domestic violence and wanted to make it permanent. Daniel Spiese sat about 20 feet to her left.

She spoke to Circuit Judge Stephen Spivey in a tearful near-whisper.

"I'm scared to death of him," she said.

Of that, Spivey said, "there's no question in my mind. None at all."

Spivey did not make the injunction permanent but extended it for one year, to June 27, 2006, saying Daniel Spiese couldn't come within 500 feet of his wife of 16 months.

But that's only the civil case.

Daniel Spiese is accused of trying to blow up his house with his wife in it a week and a half ago. A gas grill was turned on and the valve on the propane tank was opened, a sheriff's report stated, releasing the combustible gas into the couple's home. Attempted arson is a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

The 51-year-old veteran of the Sheriff's Office, records show, has been suspended without pay while the case is investigated.

Both Spieses work at the Sheriff's Office. He joined the department in 1978 after coming from the St. Leo Police Department in Pasco County. He officially retired in November 2003 but is in the Deferred Retired Option Program. After working in the Judicial Services division as a bailiff until January, he shifted to security.

She's a community relations specialist and has been with the Sheriff's Office since September 2001.

The injunction covers their workplace.

"If you stop by her office for a little chat," Spivey told Daniel Spiese, "you're in trouble. You understand that, right?"

"Yes, sir," he replied.

Daniel Spiese's personnel file is spotty.

In some places, he's called a "dependable employee" and a "seasoned deputy" and is lauded for handling "numerous calls," being "properly groomed and dressed" and "seldom using sick leave."

But in May 1980, the file shows, Spiese fired shots into the air apparently because someone was driving recklessly near his home. He was put on probation for three months.

In 1986, he was demoted from corporal to deputy because of a lack of leadership qualities.

In February 1989, he left the rear door of his patrol car unlocked at his home, and his firearm, a shotgun and his gun belt were stolen. He was suspended for a day without pay.

In April 1992, he had two "at-fault" accidents in a department car within 10 days. A third accident two years later led to another suspension of a day without pay and a special driving course.

In June 1998, he asked a 12-year-old girl to knock on the door of a suspect in an RV park. The punishment was two days of unpaid suspension.

Some parts of his annual reviews were, at best, lukewarm.

In 1987: "Deputy Spiese at times has difficulty relating to fellow employees and supervisors on a professional level."

In 1990: "Has a continuing problem with submitting reports which are complete - also does not meet standards in the areas of planning and organizing work."

In 1995: "Deputy Spiese has made comments to fellow deputies that are not appropriate."

In 1999: "Deputy Spiese should make efforts to increase his "work initiative' and "volume of work produced."'

Constance Spiese filed the temporary injunction June 16. The grill incident happened the next day. Last Friday, Daniel Spiese turned himself in to the Hernando County Jail after a warrant was issued.

After the hearing Monday, Constance Spiese left first, giving a "no comment" on her way to the elevators.

Outside the courtroom, Daniel Spiese stood next to his attorney, Peyton Hyslop, a former county judge. Spiese used to be his bailiff.

"My client, of course, denies he did anything wrong," Hyslop said. "We believe she was the one who turned the gas on."

Asked if he had anything to say about the criminal case, Daniel Spiese said no.

And the injunction?

"No," he said.

--Michael Kruse can be reached at mkruse@sptimes.com or 352 848-1434.

[Last modified June 28, 2005, 01:46:16]