By ROBIN SHANNON
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — A nine-year veteran of the St. John Sheriff’s Office was arrested Thursday following an internal investigation into alleged malfeasance in office after he was caught selling Sheriff’s Office property on eBay, said Sheriff Wayne L. Jones.

Det. Thomas Young Jr., 38, of Slidell, a member of the Sheriff’s High Tech Crime Unit and Louisiana Electronic and Financial Crimes Task Force, was taken into custody just after 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Jones said. Young was booked into the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on charges of malfeasance in office and theft of $500 or more.

Jones said the investigation into Young’s activities, which, he said, began about two months ago, is still in the early stages. He said more charges could be forthcoming.

Authorities did not say what Young was selling through the on-line auction site, or how much money he was making. Jones said Young had apparently fallen into a financial bind. Investigators have been able to identify at least four items sold by Young and the Sheriff’s Office has contacted the buyers in an attempt to get the items back.

“I’m disappointed to say the least,” Jones said. “But I have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of this office. We did what had to be done.”

Jones said Young, who was also a member of a Secret Service unit out of New Orleans, was often a part of sting operations designed to catch Internet predators lurking on social networking Web sites. Young has been suspended indefinitely from the force without pay pending further investigation.