The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested former sheriff Chris Abril on Saturday, May 5 after a woman reported suspicious charges on her credit card.

Abril, 50, of 76 Simms Street, Columbus, was charged with felony obtaining property by false pretenses, felony possession of stolen goods, felony identity theft and felony unlawful obtaining a credit card, according to sheriff reports.
Investigators said the victim reported that her credit card statement showed charges she knew she hadn’t made because she was out of town at the time, according to the report. Officers said they obtained a video of Abril allegedly using the card at a Lowe’s.
The sheriff’s office said approximately $500 of charges were made at several locations.
Abril was released on Saturday after posting a $32,000 bond.
Abril was elected Polk County sheriff in 2006 and served until his resignation in November 2008, the day before he pled guilty to two counts of felony solicitation to take indecent liberties with a minor.
The solicitation case stemmed from incidents that occurred in the late 1980s involving two Polk County girls who were ages 10 and 11 at the time. Abril served a suspended sentence that included 120 days of house arrest and three years of supervised probation. Abril was also made to surrender his law enforcement certification.
While on probation in 2009, Abril was arrested and later pled guilty to driving while impaired (DWI). He was sentenced to unsupervised probation and community service on that charge. Because he violated his 2008 probation by being convicted of a DWI, Abril was also placed on 30 days of house arrest for the probation violation. Abril is not currently on probation for his previous convictions.