One-time colleagues

One-time colleagues : ServeNow.com: "In Bay County District Court on Monday, a deputy who once upheld security in the building sat in an orange jumpsuit and shackles as several former colleagues took the stand to testify against him.

Dale Van Wert, 48, of Garfield Township, has pleaded not guilty to 11 felonies and four misdemeanors stemming from allegedly operating his private process-serving company while on duty at the Bay County Court Facility from February to June of last year.

Additional charges alleging that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in December - charges that carry, upon conviction, penalties of up to life in prison - also are pending against Van Wert, though those charges weren't addressed in Monday's hearing.

Prosecutors allege that Van Wert misused his authority as a deputy to obtain information on people and vehicles to facilitate the operations of his business, Court Service Integrity.

While the Bay County Sheriff's Office often has a deputy serve court papers while on duty, the fees, which range from about $12 to $40, go to the county's general fund. It's against county policy for deputies to serve papers in Bay County outside of their capacity as public servants. "