Two Brevard ex-deputies

won’t be charged despite links to an alleged prostitute involved in shooting.

Two former Brevard County deputies, who resigned when an internal investigation revealed they had ties to an alleged prostitute involved in the shooting of another deputy, will not face criminal charges.

Larry Blair, 56, and Raymond Sutherland, 29, resigned in September after the internal investigation found text messages and phone calls between them and Mary Derossett, 42.

Other Brevard deputies investigating Derossett got into a firefight with her uncle, John Derossett, when they came to the house during an undercover operation on Aug. 20.

Agent John “Casey” Smith was critically injured in the shooting. He was released from the hospital in late September.

The 18th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office determined on Nov. 17 that, without being able to use Mary Derossett’s testimony against Blair and Sutherland, prosecutors did not have enough evidence to charge them with soliciting a prostitute, records show.

Though both former deputies said incriminating things in interviews with law enforcement, that testimony cannot be used in court without additional proof that a crime took place, State Attorney Phil Archer wrote.

Mary and John Derossett are both being held on no bond in Brevard County Jail.

According to his internal report, Blair said he had an “ongoing sexual relationship with Derossett in exchange for money.” He said he found Derossett on backpage.com in December.

When an investigator asked Sutherland about his connection to Derossett, he denied having contact with her. Later Sutherland admitted he exchanged message with Derossett and was “looking out for her,’’ his internal report shows.

He resigned after his interview. In Blair’s resignation letter, he apologized to Sheriff Wayne Ivey for the “circumstances” that led to his resignation.