Former Lee deputy accused of conspiring with friends to arrest man appears in court

A former Lee County deputy appeared in court Saturday morning for his first appearance hearing.

Niko Irizarry was arrested on Friday and is accused of official misconduct after he targeted a man for an unlawful arrest on orders of one of his acquaintances, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said.

A judge set bond for Irizarry at $5,000.

A warrant shows Charles Custodio asked Irizzary to stop the vehicle of a man he knew because he planned to plant drugs in it.

The incident happened on Dec. 16, a warrant shows.

Custodio was also arrested and faces charges of drug trafficking, drug possession and public order crimes, or criminal conspiracy.

Custodio, who also appeared in court on Saturday, had bond set at $55,000.

The third man, Scott Snider, was not at first appearance.

The plan was foiled by text messages that show Custodio and Irizarry were communicating about the victim.

Custodio and Irizarry are expected to be in court again on March 14.