Gadsden County school resource deputy accused of sex with minor, soliciting minors for favors

Other — Tallahassee, FL — reported 2026-07-14

SUMMARY

A Gadsden County school resource deputy is accused of having sex with a minor and soliciting minors for sexual favors in exchange for a vape pen.

KEY FACTS

• Incident type: Other
• Location: Tallahassee, FL
• Date reported: 2026-07-14
• Suspect: not stated
• Status: arrested, charged

REPORTED DETAILS

• Sedale Canidate was arrested on Friday at his Leon County home by U.S. Marshals.
• Canidate is accused of having sex with a minor while on duty and soliciting minors for sexual favors in exchange for a vape pen, according to arrest documents.
• Two students came forward in 2025 with complaints against Canidate, alleging he had purchased them snacks and asked them to come to his office alone.
• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement searched the SRO office for DNA and confirmed that part of the samples tested positive for semen.
• Canidate is charged with two counts of sexual battery by a law enforcement officer, two counts of attempted solicitation of lewd/lascivious conduct, one count of indecent, lewd/lascivious touching of certain minors and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct.