Deputy fired for misusing county’s license plate reader system, NC sheriff says

A deputy has been fired by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office for “misuse of the license plate reader system,” according to investigators in western North Carolina.

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The accusation came from “a creditable outside agency” on Oct. 16, Macon County Sheriff Brent Holbrooks said in a news release.

“After careful review, the deputy was immediately placed on administrative leave, and an internal investigation was initiated,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an Oct. 20 Facebook post.

“Macon County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs … concluded that the complaint was founded. After conclusion of the internal affairs investigation, Sheriff Brent Holbrooks determined that the appropriate course of action was termination of the employee, Jonathan Bean.”

Investigators did not release details of how the system was misused and did not report Bean was charged with a crime of any kind.

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Automated license plate readers “use cameras and software to automatically capture, analyze, and store vehicle license plate information,” according to the Department of Homeland Security. That data is then used to “create records of vehicle activity,” and issue alerts in cases of criminal activity, DHS says.

“The Macon County Sheriff’s Office takes the appropriate use of its technology and resources seriously. Misuse of any kind will not be tolerated, and all allegations of misconduct will be addressed promptly and appropriately,” Sheriff Holbrooks said in the news release.

The Macon County Sheriff’s Office is in Franklin, about a 180-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published October 20, 2026 at 12:37 PM with the headline “Deputy fired for misusing county’s license plate reader system, NC sheriff says.”

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