Their cases are unrelated to Lopez\u2019s racketeering case, where he\u2019s accused of helming and protecting an illegal gambling operation<\/a> that spanned several counties. But prosecutors looked to address the matter on record before proceeding, with much of the hearing taking place in Circuit Judge Brian Welke\u2019s chambers in order to discuss potentially confidential information.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand that Mr. Lopez is entitled to counsel of his choosing, but he is also entitled to a fair trial that does not include an attorney that has a conflict,\u201d Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Panagiota Papakos said once the hearing returned to open court.<\/p>\n Migdalia Perez, a partner at Perez LaSure Law, assured the judge there was no conflict. Records show the firm represented Ford for about a week in July 2024 before another attorney stepped in as legal counsel.<\/p>\n As for Henry, arrested months after Lopez was indicted, the firm began representing him in September only to withdraw from the case a month later, after Henry and Ford were named as \u201ccategory A witnesses\u201d in Lopez\u2019s case.<\/p>\n \u201cMy involvement was very, very limited,\u201d Perez said of Ford\u2019s case. As for Henry\u2019s, \u201cmy law partner immediately withdrew from that case, which is required under the rules of professional conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n The two former deputies were known members of Lopez\u2019s inner circle during his time in office, serving as members of the agency\u2019s outreach unit who doubled as the sheriff\u2019s security. Ford, who briefly testified in court, said he also served as Lopez\u2019s driver, despite working specifically in veterans outreach while Henry worked with youth in the community.<\/p>\n \u201cI mainly worked with veterans, which gave me flexibility to assist in being with the sheriff at certain events and at those events, obviously, the duties were to keep him safe,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n Ford\u2019s time at the Sheriff\u2019s Office ended in 2024 following his arrest. While Henry\u2019s case is directly tied to Ford\u2019s,\u00a0for some reason\u00a0he wasn\u2019t arrested and charged until September under current Sheriff Christopher Blackmon<\/a>, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis the day Lopez was indicted for racketeering.<\/p>\n According to an arrest affidavit, in 2024 Ford and Henry tapped into surveillance cameras and discussed the footage among themselves after Ford suspected his wife, a reserve deputy and training coordinator, was cheating on him with a Kissimmee police lieutenant. Ford was charged with 10 counts of accessing a computer system without authority and single counts of domestic battery and aggravated stalking.<\/p>\n The latter two charges were later dropped. In January 2025, he pleaded no contest to one of the cybercrimes in exchange for withheld judgment, probation and surrendering his law enforcement certification. Henry\u2019s case is ongoing.<\/p>\n Lopez, who pleaded not guilty, is the sole defendant<\/a> out of several alleged co-conspirators still awaiting trial on the racketeering charges. The rest, including his estranged wife Robin Severance-Lopez, have either pleaded guilty in exchange for turning state\u2019s witness or \u2014 in the case of one co-defendant<\/a> \u2014 is believed to have fled the country.<\/p>\n No trial date has been set, as his defense continues to review the evidence and conduct depositions.<\/p>\n \u201cHow close are we to setting this for trial?\u201d Welke asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNot close,\u201d Perez replied. The next status hearing is scheduled for May 19.<\/p>\n The accusations against Lopez are extensive. Investigators weaved text messages, videos, financial documents, witness statements and more to establish the former sheriff\u2019s alleged double life as a gambling boss, which began in 2019 while launching his ultimately successful bid as Osceola County\u2019s top cop.<\/p>\n![\"Douglas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tos-l-lopez-hearing-14.jpg\")
Douglas Ford, a former Osceola County deputy and former member of Marcos Lopez\u2019s security detail, answers questions from the prosecuting attorney during a hearing for the former Osceola County Sheriff on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Rich Pope\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n