Ex-Jacksonville sheriff's officer football star accused of aiding criminals pleads guilty

A former Jacksonville sheriff's officer and high school and college football star pleaded guilty Tuesday to sharing police information with "criminals in our community," according to court records and what Sheriff T.K. Waters previously said during an initial news conference .

Christopher Barr, 28, was arrested on Jan. 27 on two counts of an "offense against computer users" and resigned after four years with the department. In announcing the arrest, Waters said there's a "strong possibility" it's related to gang activity.

His sentencing is to be set the week of June 17, court records show. Barr faces a maximum five years of prison on each count, news partner First Coast News reported.

The protected information came from cellphone data that involved a text thread conversation or group chat, According to Barr's arrest warrant. A "subject" in a separate investigation by another agency sent a message to several others asking about details of a police interaction in Jacksonville. The subject was asking others to obtain information about when a particular individual was contacted by police. One of the messages indicated that he was going to reach out to Barr, the warrant states.

A screenshot from the subject's phone showed Barr in his Sheriff's Office uniform and what appeared to be a patrol vehicle. After the reference to Barr in the group chat, messages were sent with names of other witnesses involved in the separate agency's investigation, according to the warrant. It further states the phone number used in communication between the subject and officer was Barr's personal cellphone number.

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An analysis of several Sheriff's Office databases was conducted that confirmed Barr had searched the Agency Records Management System and reviewed a report that contained details of the incident being sought by the subject in the group chat.

Waters wouldn't say who specifically the information was given other than they were criminals.

Chris Barr the football star

While the Sheriff's Office did not specify further details about Barr's background, the name and birthdate match the personal information listed by the University of South Florida's website for former Jacksonville football standout Chris Barr, according to The Florida Times-Union.

A two-time Florida High School Athletic Association football champion at wide receiver and defensive back for Trinity Christian Academy in 2013 and 2014, Barr signed with the University of South Florida in 2015 and appeared in 43 career games with the Bulls. Already a Times-Union Super 24 honoree in his senior year, Barr earned attention with Trinity Christian in the nationally televised Burger King State Champions Bowl in Boca Raton on Dec. 27, 2014, when he scored four touchdowns and gained 240 all-purpose yards during a 35-21 win over Eastside Catholic of Sammamish, Wash.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ex-Jacksonville sheriff's officer football star accused of aiding criminals pleads guilty