BARTOW – The entire Wauchula City Commission has reached a plea agreement after the seven commissioners were charged with violating the Open Meetings Law. The charges relate to two private meetings on Sept. 14, 2009 and March 1, 2010.
Six of the commissioners, Jerry Conerly, Daniel Graham, Delois Johnson, Valentine Patarini, David Royal and Yeavone Spieth, each face two misdemeanor counts of intentionally violating the Sunshine Law. Commissioner Clarence Bolin attended one meeting and only faced one count.
Each commissioner pleaded no contest to a single count of violating the Open Meetings Law and was ordered to pay $325 for fines and court costs as part of their plea agreement. Royal, the mayor, must also pay $500 for prosecution costs; the remaining members must each pay $300 for prosecution costs.
Adjudication of guilt was withheld. Each charge carried a maximum penalty of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Source: The Ledger (Lakeland)
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