SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Francisco Estrella, the Orange County deputy who was accused of a long list of charges in Seminole County linked to an April carjacking near Winter Springs, will avoid jail time in a plea deal, court records show.
Estrella, 33, was arrested on charges of interception of wire, oral, or electronic communication; disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communication; disclosure or use of confidential criminal justice information; unlawful use of a two-way communication device; and accessing computer or electronic devices without authorization or exceeding authorization.
Recommended Videos
Court records filed on Aug. 28 show that Estrella, who bonded out of jail a few days after being arrested, will avoid jail time in a plea deal after three felony charges were dropped. He will have to serve 12 months of supervised probation related to a misdemeanor charge.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, of Homestead, was stopped on April 11 at a traffic light at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road in her Dodge Durango when a masked gunman carrying a 10mm automatic handgun got out of a green Acura and entered her SUV, apparently forcing her to drive off at gunpoint.
Less than two hours later, a vehicle similar to the Durango was found ablaze in Osceola County after witnesses reported hearing gunshots at a construction site near Boggy Creek Road, the sheriff said, adding that the vehicle was damaged so badly that it could not be identified. A body believed to be Aguasvivas was found in the vehicle, officials said.
Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the woman’s brother and her husband, Miguel Aguasvivas, reached out to Estrella’s wife, who was a childhood friend. An arrest warrant affidavit shows that Estrella had called one of the Seminole County sheriff’s investigators involved in the carjacking investigation, identifying himself as “Francisco Archuela” and claiming to be Aguasvivas’ cousin.
Estrella explained he was concerned about the investigation and Aguasvivas’ safety, and he asked for details about how the investigation was going, the affidavit states. However, the investigator told Estrella that she couldn’t share those details, as the investigation was still active.
Estrella was hired at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in September 2022. He has been relieved of all law enforcement duties without pay while the criminal case is underway. Once the criminal proceedings are complete, an OCSO administrative investigation will be conducted, and the results of that investigation will be public.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement regarding Estrella’s employment with the agency:
“Estrella has been relieved of all law enforcement duties without pay while the criminal case is under way. Once the criminal proceedings are complete, an OCSO administrative investigation will be conducted and the results of that investigation will be public.”
Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: