State: Deputy charged with witness tampering while in on-duty

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Deputy charged with witness tampering while in on-duty

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 12, 2006

WEST PALM BEACH - A deputy was arrested for witness tampering after he went to a bar while on duty and in uniform to persuade a sexual assault victim not to testify against her alleged attacker, authorities said.

Deputy Anthony Pilallis, 32, was arrested Thursday night charged with witness tampering, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office spokesman Paul Miller.

Pilallis allegedly went to the bar on Oct. 27 with a picture of the 20-year-old woman, whom a bartender pointed out. He allegedly told her that she could avoid arrest for underage drinking if she agreed not to testify in the kidnapping and sexual assault case against Robert Cucci Jr., 26, the Palm Beach Post reported.

The woman reported the incident to authorities.

Deputies are investigating Pilallis' connection to Cucci.

Pilallis was freed on a $3,000 bond. He previously worked for the Lake Worth Police Department, but was recently hired in Palm Beach County and still on probation there.