UPDATED: Holmes County Commissioner Brandon Newsom facing two felony charges

More details have emerged in the investigation and subsequent felony charging of Holmes County Commissioner Brandon Newsom. 

Newsom was formally charged Tuesday, June 24, with two felonies following a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services (FDFS) and the 14th Judicial Circuit’s State Attorney’s Office.

Both charges are related to Newsom’s alleged violation of Florida Statutes regarding bail bond agents, stemming from accusations that Newsom was simultaneously a sworn law enforcement officer and a bail bond agent and that he allowed non-licensed individuals to accept money on behalf of his business, Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom. If true, both are actions violate state law and are felonies.

Notably, investigators say Newsom executed 232 bail bonds in Holmes County while also holding certification as a law enforcement officer between October 5, 2019, and January 2, 2023, collecting approximately $101,830.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the FDFS Criminal Investigations Division received a copy of a citizen complaint on January 31, 2023, alleging Newsom also held a position as a deputy sheriff with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in violation of Florida Statue. The complaint contained a screenshot of a Google search showing “Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom” in Defuniak Springs and a public records response from HCSO indicating Newsom resigned from a part-time deputy sheriff position on January 3, 2023.

The court document went on to say a license search of FDFS showed Newsom as a valid bail bond agent as of January 3, 2017, with an active appointment with Roche Surety valid through July 31, 2023, and that another public record response showed that Newsom became a part­time deputy sheriff on September 18, 2019. 

FDFS officials say that based on this information, an investigation was opened to determine if Newsom violated the state statute regarding prohibited persons, such as deputy sheriffs and/or persons having the power to arrest “directly or indirectly receiving benefits from a bail bond transaction.”

Investigators found that between September 6, 2011, and September 27, 2015, Newsom was employed as a deputy sheriff with Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). After terminating employment with WCSO, Newsom began the process of becoming a Florida licensed bail bond agent. At that time, his law enforcement certification was set to expire in September 2019. FDFS licensing records show Newsom completed the Bail Bond Agent Qualification Course in November 2015. “The course syllabus shows ‘Prohibited Persons’ are covered during the first day of the course,” wrote investigators in the complaint. After completing an apprenticeship under a licensed agent, Newsom received his own license in December 2016. In June 2019 – about three months prior to the expiration of his law enforcement certification – Newsom began law enforcement training and the deputy sheriff application process with HCSO. 

Newsom stated on the employment application that he owned ”Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom” and held a “surety license” but omitted the licensing agency, effective dates, license number, and relationship or position to the business as instructed, attesting on the HCSO Oath of Office, “I am otherwise qualified to be a Deputy Sheriff of Holmes County in accordance to the Constitution and the laws of the State of Florida.” 

A HCSO personnel form showed Newsom as a new hire for a part time law enforcement officer, effective September 18, 2019. HCSO records further show that Newsom participated in various training with the agency, digitally signing his Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) proofs of training completion as “Deputy Brandon Newsom” between February 28, 2020, and April 1, 2022. A January 2023 Affidavit of Separation shows Newsom was separated from HCSO for “Administrative separation not involving misconduct,” noting his employment class and type part time law enforcement.

“Newsom maintained his bail bond license and continued to operate his bail bond business during the time he held an active law enforcement (Deputy Sheriff) position with HCSO,” wrote investigators in the complaint, noting that bail bond records were obtained from Roche Surety and Casualty Company, Inc. and the Holmes County Clerk of Court. 

“After receiving his appointment as a deputy sheriff with HCSO, Newsom, in his capacity as a licensed 2-34 Limited Surety (Bail) Agent, executed 232 bail bonds in Holmes County between October 5, 2019, and January 2, 2023, collecting approximately $101,830 in premiums,” states the court record. “The executed bonds display Newsom’s signature, are stamped with Newsom’s license number (W297462) and business name ‘Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom.’”

The complaint went on to state Newsom “completed multiple continuing education courses related to his bail bond license” during his time as a sheriff’s deputy, including two courses that specifically covered individuals who are prohibited by statute from being a bail bond agent -including, “police officers or employees of any police department or law enforcement agency,” “Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs or employees of any sheriff’s department,” and “Persons having the power to arrest or persons who have authority over or control of federal, state, county, or municipal prisoners.” 

The complaint also detailed interviews with witnesses, including a bail bond agent who apprenticed under Newsom who told investigators when he learned Newsom’s law enforcement standards were picked up by HCSO, he expressed concern, to which he claims Newsom responded. “We’ll see how it plays out, but I’m not willing to lose my standards.” 

Investigators also spoke to two former members of Holmes County Board of County Commissioners (HCBOCC) office staff, both of whom stated they routinely collected payments for both Newsom’s bail bond business and his dumpster business and that he often used the county computer during regular BOCC business hours, occasionally printing documents for his bail bond business.

According to the complaint, one former staff member told investigators Newsom would log in to that same county computer with her username and password. She additionally provided screenshots of a text message to corroborate her claim, adding that she had also completed or filled out bail bond documents on Newsom’s behalf – an act prohibited by law as she was not a licensed bail bond agent.

Another county employee told investigators he had witnessed Newsom using that same county computer and that he had also conducted business for Newsom, having met him on a road near the Holmes County Jail to “deliver a check” to him.

“All the county employees reported intimidation and fear of retaliation by Newsom,” wrote investigators.

FDFS served a search warrant at the HCBOCC office on March 28, 2025, and seized the computer mentioned by the witnesses. According to the investigator’s narrative, a search of the computer evidenced that between November 2020 and May 2022, Newsom emailed blank and/or partially completed bail bond forms, an Escambia County Jail view record, a photo of an apparent premium check, and a build-up funds request to Roche to and from his personal email accounts to a Holmes County BOCC administrative email address. 

Investigators state that when they attempted to call Newsom about the case in February 2025, they reached a recording identifying the number as that of Holmes County Commissioner Brandon Newsom and identifying Newsom’s businesses – U-Load Dumpsters and Bail Bonds by Brandon Newsom. The investigator stated he left a message identifying himself, as well as the purpose for the call, but his request for a return call received no response.

According to his report, the investigator finally heard from Commissioner Newsom following the execution of the search warrant in March, at which time he was asking if the probable cause affidavit was public record. 

“I offered to make an appointment to meet with Newsom, which was declined,” stated the investigator. “On June 20, 2025, [ I ] spoke with Newsom’s legal counsel and offered another interview opportunity to Newsom. On June 23, 2025, [ I ] followed up with Newsom’s legal counsel, and the interview was declined.”

Newsom turned himself in to the Holmes County Jail shortly before noon Tuesday, June 24, where he was booked before leaving less than half an hour later on a conditional release.

His arraignment date is not yet available.