- April 18, 2024
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Flagler County Sheriff James L. Manfre faces a possible $19,000 Ethics Commission fine over three alleged violations of state law.
An Ethics Commission advocate's report filed Jan. 19 recommends an administrative law judge order a $19,000 fine and public censure and reprimand, contending that Manfre improperly used a Sheriff's Office car for personal out-of-state transportation, that he failed to properly report as a gift a stay in then-undersheriff Rick Staly's cabin, and that he improperly used a Sheriff's Office credit card to buy meals including alcoholic beverages for people who were not Sheriff's Office employees.
Manfre is fighting the allegations, and his legal team filed its own recommendation: that the case against him be dismissed. The report filed by Manfre's legal team says there is a lack of evidence that Manfre acted with corrupt intent when using the Sheriff's Office car out of state or when using the Sheriff's Office credit card, and that there is not sufficient evidence that the financial value of his stay at Staly's cabin was high enough to meet the $100 mandatory reporting threshold.
"The administrative law Judge has received evidence and testimony in this case, and we believe strongly based on this information that the commission did not meet their burden and the allegations will be found to have no merit," Manfre said in a statement emailed to the Palm Coast Observer. "Because they have failed to meet their burden, we have submitted an order to the administrative law judge requesting the allegations be dismissed. ... At no time did I violate any Florida law or Sheriff’s Office policy. I am waiting for the judge to render her opinion, which I expect to be issued in the very near future."
The Ethics Commission voted 6-1 in a July hearing to find that there was probable cause that Manfre had violated Florida ethics. In an earlier, Dec. 2014 hearing, the commission rejected a possible settlement recombined by its own advocate, which would have required Manfre to pay a $1,500 fine and $850 in restitution for the out-of-state use of the Sheriff's Office car, but dropped the two charges concerning the stay in Staly's cabin and Manfre's use of the agency credit card.
An administrative law judge is expected to rule on the matter soon. The judge's order must then be voted on by the Florida Commission on Ethics.
