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Sheriff apologizes for teen's wrongful arrest

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — A sheriff in northeast Florida is publicly apologizing to a teen who spent 35 days in jail after an arrest mix-up.
 
Authorities say a deputy's failure to confirm his suspect's identity with a photo led to the arrest of the wrong high school student. The teen was charged as an adult in a sexual battery case. The mistake was not discovered until he received court documents detailing the charge.
 
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said Tuesday that the deputy has a good track record but took short-cuts in the investigation last year. The deputy was suspended and transferred to patrol.
 
Beseler told The Florida Times-Union that he will "seek to make things right" for the teen.
 
The teen has told the sheriff's office that he intends to sue.