Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch
Local news reports
A North Florida jury on Thursday acquitted suspended Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch of official misconduct and falsifying public records in a case that roiled gun-rights supporters and reached Gov. Rick Scott’s office.
Scott, who has been under fire from Second Amendment backers since he suspended Finch on June 4, quickly reinstated the sheriff Thursday afternoon.
The criminal charges and suspension came after a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation concluded that the sheriff released a local man, Floyd Eugene Parrish, who had been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, and that Finch destroyed or altered records of the arrest.
But a jury in the rural community west of Tallahassee reached a verdict within 90 minutes to acquit Finch, 51, who was engulfed with hugs and handshakes from family members and supporters who crowded the courtroom.
Nevertheless, the guy he released was a convicted felon arrested with a gun. The good sheriff said he wouldn't enforce laws against folks he deemed "good people just minding their own business." And somehow the paperwork conveniently disappeared.
The prosecutors suggested the reason for his actions was to repay a powerful local family for their support in getting him re-elected.
I'll put Sheriff Finch down as a minor entry on the list that includes O.J. Simpson and George Zimmerman.
What do you think?
Mikeb, Parrish, the man who was arrested by a deputy, was charged with the felony of carrying the gun. That's the only crime that Parrish was accused of committing, according to the source. It doesn't appear that he was a felon in possession. So the sheriff did the right thing--though for political reasons, probably. We were discussing what happens when law enforcement exercises discretion a while ago.
ReplyDeleteA long list of those who sear allegiance to the Constitution, but refuse to enforce the laws, and even make laws denying people their Constitutional rights.
ReplyDelete"Nevertheless, the guy he released was a convicted felon arrested with a gun."
ReplyDeleteMike, do you have any source to back up this statement? I didn't see anything in the article you posted and I looked at several others and didn't see anything saying he was a felon.
"Floyd Eugene Parrish, who had been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon"
Delete"According to an FDLE affidavit, a Liberty County deputy arrested Parrish during a traffic stop for the felony charge of carrying a concealed deadly weapon — a loaded semi-automatic pistol that was found hidden in his right-front pants pocket."
I figured he was a convicted felon based on these two parts of the story. But, you're right. It's not entirely clear. He could have been carrying concealed without a permit and nothing more.