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OCTOBER 1989: Former Longwood Deputy Mayor Lynette
Dennis and City Commissioner Rick Bullington were found guilty
in separate Seminole County jury trials of violating the Sunshine
Law by discussing city business at a secret meeting. Each was fined
$500, placed on probation for 60 days and ordered to perform 25
hours of community service. They also were assessed court costs.
During the trials, Dennis and Bullington testified that the unannounced
meeting, also attended by former Mayor David Gunter and former
City Administrator Gene DeMarie, dealt entirely with political
matters. Gunter and DeMarie, however, testified that the proposed
acquisition of a utility system and other city business were discussed.
Bullington, who was still in office and was seeking re-election,
was suspended by the governor. Gunter earlier pleaded no contest
to related charges.
JULY 1989: Former Longwood Mayor David Gunter
was fined $500 for violating the Sunshine Law. Gunter pleaded
no contest on June 30, 1989, to charges he "knowingly attended
a meeting at which official acts were taken." Gunter subsequently
testified against two other Longwood officials, who were convicted
in separate jury trials.
JUNE 1989: Fernandina Beach Mayor Ronnie Sapp
and City Commissioner Dale Dees, who had discussed by telephone
who would be the town's next mayor, were found guilty by a judge
of violating the state Sunshine Law. Sapp, cited for three civil
violations of the Sunshine Law, pleaded not guilty. Dees, cited
for two violations, pleaded guilty. Both were assessed $26 in
court costs and ordered to organize and attend seminars for local
officials about the Sunshine Law.
DECEMBER 1988: Two St. Augustine Beach city
commissioners, Mary Stallings and Valerie Kroll, were convicted
of Sunshine violations related to two radio-telephone calls during
which they discussed city business. Six misdemeanor charges related
to the two telephone conversations were filed. Stallings, whose
commission term had since expired, pleaded no contest to two
of the misdemeanor charges and was placed on probation for six
months. Kroll pleaded no contest to two civil charges of violating
the Sunshine Law and was fined $250 on each charge, plus court
costs. Additional misdemeanor charges against Kroll were dropped.
Both Kroll and Stallings were suspended by the governor.
SEPTEMBER 1988: Former Polk County Undersheriff
John Simpson was fined $250 after pleading no contest to charges
of intentionally withholding public records. Polk County Judge
Dick Price entered a formal adjudication of guilt against Simpson
on the charge, a second-class misdemeanor punishable by up to
one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Simpson earlier resigned
from the Polk County Sheriff's Department after admitting he
omitted the name of a special deputy appointee from a list requested
by three newspapers.
NOVEMBER 1987: Ten Auburndale city officials
pleaded no contest to charges of violating the state Sunshine
Law and paid fines ranging from $25 to $125. All were members
of the city's Police Pension Retirement Board, which had met
without public notice and awarded a former police chief $81,000
in disability benefits. State Attorney Jerry Hill said he found
no criminal intent on the part of the pension board members.
APRIL 1984: Former Bradenton City Clerk Wallie
Eyman was convicted of destroying public records sought by a
local newspaper, a criminal violation of the state Public Records
Law. The clerk was charged with one count of refusing to allow
inspection of public records and two counts of destroying public
records. Eyman pleaded no contest to one count of destroying
public records and was sentenced to three months probation.
DECEMBER 1980: Gov. Bob Graham suspended Waldo
City Councilmen Carl Beggs and Manuel Youngblood after they were
found guilty by an Alachua County jury in October 1980 of violating
the state Sunshine Law. The councilmen were found guilty of one
charge of illegally meeting with the town's attorney. Both were
later fined $10 each by County Judge Nath Doughtie.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1979: Five present and former
Reddington Shores city commissioners were fined a total of $1,150
on charges of violating the state Sunshine Law and interfering
with an election. The charges resulted from a secret meeting
among the town's mayor and four commissioners at which a letter
was written that criticized a candidate in a pending election.
The letter, signed by the five, was mailed at public expense.
AUGUST 1978: Former Indian Harbor Beach Mayor
Jerry James pleaded no contest in Brevard County Court to violating
the state Sunshine Law. He was fined $500 and sentenced to six
months probation. Judge Daniel Citak suspended half of the fine
and prohibited James from holding office during probation.
OCTOBER 1977: Two Glades County commissioners
and the former commission chairman were found guilty of violating
the state Sunshine Law and fined $500 apiece. They also were
sentenced to 60 days in jail, which was suspended. Convicted
by Lee County Judge William Nelson of conspiring to hold a special
commission meeting without giving public notice were: Commission
Chairman Charles Hall, Commissioner John Langdale and former
Commission Chairman Joseph Peeples. They are believed to be the
first persons convicted under the state Sunshine Law.
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