thanks, Bob Wells
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Another Grand Jury Investigation
- Thread starter Kaydence
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thanks, Bob Wells
I won't disagree with you. It can often times help to shed some light on things but getting information by being present, actually witnessing or being personally effected by some of the antics practiced in our county is the best way for one's eyes to be opened.
Stop drinking the county kool aid Bob.
The grand jury investigation into the $800,000.00 that went missing under Bill Imfeld's watch was a witch hunt. Bill Imfeld wasn't held accountable and of course he is still employed by the county. Cindy Meadows on the other hand, spent 2 years clearing her name from false allegations made against her during that debacle and lost the last election to Tony Anderson! The County has since hired Mac Carpenter as the new planning director, who was in part responsible for the fiasco which, led to his former boss Patsy Blackshear pleading no contest to perjury (she LIED and got PROBATION) and the County suing and then settling with their own accounting firm for less than half of what was lost and RETAINING them as their accounting firm. This didn't happen just once either, it happened twice!!
Do you honestly think Bob that if you were responsible for $800,000.00 going missing from South Walton Fire Rescue's account under your watch, that you would still have a job and NOT be in prison somewhere?
In the City's case, WE have lost $221,000 in sales tax revenues and municipal revenue sharing funds over a two-year period due to the failure to file required audits and annual financial reports in a timely manner but we have a "common denominator" in Mac Carpenter who said during a very public meeting, "Those letters from the State Auditor mean nothing, every City get's them"! The letters meant just exactly what they said they meant and the City lost out on $221,000.00 in sales tax revenues! That's NOT OK!! To add insult to injury the State Attorney has since found that $368,063.00 the city obtained through a 2014 legal settlement with British Petroleum is completely UNACCOUNTED for. No problem...convene a grand jury, grandstand by serving the City Council (at a very public meeting) notice to appear before a Grand Jury, slap a few wrists, maybe put someone on probation and call it a day but whatever happens don't hold anyone accountable.
In Okaloosa County and in every other City and State in this Country we are governed by laws...child abusers in the private sector go to prison so why should it be any different for elected officials who cover up child abuse? Fact is even elected officials are governed by the same laws as the private sector and they should pay for their crimes just as everyone else does. No excuses. no get out of jail free cards!
The grand jury investigation into the $800,000.00 that went missing under Bill Imfeld's watch was a witch hunt. Bill Imfeld wasn't held accountable and of course he is still employed by the county. Cindy Meadows on the other hand, spent 2 years clearing her name from false allegations made against her during that debacle and lost the last election to Tony Anderson! The County has since hired Mac Carpenter as the new planning director, who was in part responsible for the fiasco which, led to his former boss Patsy Blackshear pleading no contest to perjury (she LIED and got PROBATION) and the County suing and then settling with their own accounting firm for less than half of what was lost and RETAINING them as their accounting firm. This didn't happen just once either, it happened twice!!
Do you honestly think Bob that if you were responsible for $800,000.00 going missing from South Walton Fire Rescue's account under your watch, that you would still have a job and NOT be in prison somewhere?
In the City's case, WE have lost $221,000 in sales tax revenues and municipal revenue sharing funds over a two-year period due to the failure to file required audits and annual financial reports in a timely manner but we have a "common denominator" in Mac Carpenter who said during a very public meeting, "Those letters from the State Auditor mean nothing, every City get's them"! The letters meant just exactly what they said they meant and the City lost out on $221,000.00 in sales tax revenues! That's NOT OK!! To add insult to injury the State Attorney has since found that $368,063.00 the city obtained through a 2014 legal settlement with British Petroleum is completely UNACCOUNTED for. No problem...convene a grand jury, grandstand by serving the City Council (at a very public meeting) notice to appear before a Grand Jury, slap a few wrists, maybe put someone on probation and call it a day but whatever happens don't hold anyone accountable.
In Okaloosa County and in every other City and State in this Country we are governed by laws...child abusers in the private sector go to prison so why should it be any different for elected officials who cover up child abuse? Fact is even elected officials are governed by the same laws as the private sector and they should pay for their crimes just as everyone else does. No excuses. no get out of jail free cards!
P.S. In Sara Bowers very lucrative separation agreement from the City of DFS, Clayton Adkinson wrote that the City would not prosecute her for discrepancies and the City Atty got her a job in Freeport where they are now asking for a forensic audit which Ms. Bowers wants no part of...cause she doesn't have time.
Subpoenas served in grand jury investigation of city of DeFuniak Springs
By DOTTY NIST and BRUCE COLLIER
Subpoenas have been served by the Walton County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) on behalf of the Office of the State Attorney in connection with an upcoming grand jury investigation on matters involving the city of DeFuniak Springs.
Corey Dobridnia, WCSO public information officer, provided the names of those who had been subpoenaed in response to a public information request. She said the WCSO personnel had served the subpoenas at the direction of the state attorney's office as part of the WCSO's official duties.
According to information provided by Dobridnia, persons receiving subpoenas included DeFuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell and current city council members Janie Griffith, Kermit Wright, Ron Kelley, Henry Ennis, and Wayne E. Graham, along with City Clerk Loretta Laird and City Utility Billing & Finance Supervisor Morgan Hulion; also served were Mac Carpenter and Mac Work, former city councilmen, and Sara Bowers, former city manager.
Some of the subpoenas were served when the city council convened for its Dec. 21 special meeting at DeFuniak Springs City Hall and others separately, Dobridnia indicated.
The grand jury is reportedly to convene in this matter on Jan. 16. The Herald - Breeze contacted the Office of the State Attorney, and Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said that Assistant State Attorneys Greg Anchors and Clifton Drake were in charge of the DeFuniak Springs investigation. Beyond that, Marcille said he could not provide any further details, including the date that the grand jury will convene.
DFS Herald Breeze
By DOTTY NIST and BRUCE COLLIER
Subpoenas have been served by the Walton County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) on behalf of the Office of the State Attorney in connection with an upcoming grand jury investigation on matters involving the city of DeFuniak Springs.
Corey Dobridnia, WCSO public information officer, provided the names of those who had been subpoenaed in response to a public information request. She said the WCSO personnel had served the subpoenas at the direction of the state attorney's office as part of the WCSO's official duties.
According to information provided by Dobridnia, persons receiving subpoenas included DeFuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell and current city council members Janie Griffith, Kermit Wright, Ron Kelley, Henry Ennis, and Wayne E. Graham, along with City Clerk Loretta Laird and City Utility Billing & Finance Supervisor Morgan Hulion; also served were Mac Carpenter and Mac Work, former city councilmen, and Sara Bowers, former city manager.
Some of the subpoenas were served when the city council convened for its Dec. 21 special meeting at DeFuniak Springs City Hall and others separately, Dobridnia indicated.
The grand jury is reportedly to convene in this matter on Jan. 16. The Herald - Breeze contacted the Office of the State Attorney, and Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said that Assistant State Attorneys Greg Anchors and Clifton Drake were in charge of the DeFuniak Springs investigation. Beyond that, Marcille said he could not provide any further details, including the date that the grand jury will convene.
DFS Herald Breeze
11 past, present DeFuniak officials told to appear before grand jury
By TOM McLAUGHLIN
The group has been summoned to appear during the week of Jan. 16 “to testify and the truth to speak in a certain matter pending and under investigation,” according to the subpoena council member Kermit Wright received following a Dec. 21 board meeting.
DeFuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell and seven past or present city council members head a list of 11 people subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury as part of an investigation into the mishandling of city funds.
The group has been summoned to appear during the week of Jan. 16 “to testify and the truth to speak in a certain matter pending and under investigation,” according to the subpoena council member Kermit Wright received following a Dec. 21 board meeting.
“This just tells me they’re moving forward with the investigation,” Wright said. “They’re getting serious with it.”
The First Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office began reviewing the financial operations of DeFuniak Springs in July, after the city’s attorney reported the city had lost nearly $221,000 in state funding over a two year period by failing to timely file required audits and annual financial reports.
The late filing issue was made worse when no one in city government to responded to multiple letters from state financial authorities, City Attorney Clayton Adkinson said in a report filed in June.
Greg Anchors, the chief assistant state attorney in Walton County, said Thursday that after completing its investigation, the State Attorney’s Office decided to convene a grand jury to evaluate its findings.
“We thought it better to take it to the grand jury and let them provide their opinion,” Anchors said.
A Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputy served several grand jury subpoenas at the conclusion of an emergency meeting held four days before Christmas, something that caught the attention of at least one of the handful of residents in attendance.
Walton Sheriff Michael Adkinson defended his deputy’s decision to use the public meeting setting to streamline the service of multiple subpoenas.
“They were served after the meeting was over and there were about four people standing around,” the sheriff said. “The deputy didn’t interrupt the meeting. I don’t really have a problem with it since all five (council members to receive subpoenas) were in one place.”
Along with Campbell, who did not respond to a request for comment, and Wright,who took the attorney’s report of mismanagement to the State Attorney’s Office, council members Ron Kelley, Henry Ennis, Janie Griffith and Wayne Graham have been subpoenaed.
Also subpoenaed or facing subpoena are former council members Mac Work and Mac Carpenter, City Clerk Loretta Laird, Finance Department employee Morgan Huilon and former City Manager Sara Bowers.
The subpoena issued to Wright calls for him to show up at the Walton County Courthouse at 9 a.m. for the week of Jan. 16. It states failure to comply with the summons could subject him to possible contempt of court charges.
www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20171231/11-past-present-defuniak-officials-told-to-appear-before-grand-jury
By TOM McLAUGHLIN
The group has been summoned to appear during the week of Jan. 16 “to testify and the truth to speak in a certain matter pending and under investigation,” according to the subpoena council member Kermit Wright received following a Dec. 21 board meeting.
DeFuniak Springs Mayor Bob Campbell and seven past or present city council members head a list of 11 people subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury as part of an investigation into the mishandling of city funds.
The group has been summoned to appear during the week of Jan. 16 “to testify and the truth to speak in a certain matter pending and under investigation,” according to the subpoena council member Kermit Wright received following a Dec. 21 board meeting.
“This just tells me they’re moving forward with the investigation,” Wright said. “They’re getting serious with it.”
The First Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office began reviewing the financial operations of DeFuniak Springs in July, after the city’s attorney reported the city had lost nearly $221,000 in state funding over a two year period by failing to timely file required audits and annual financial reports.
The late filing issue was made worse when no one in city government to responded to multiple letters from state financial authorities, City Attorney Clayton Adkinson said in a report filed in June.
Greg Anchors, the chief assistant state attorney in Walton County, said Thursday that after completing its investigation, the State Attorney’s Office decided to convene a grand jury to evaluate its findings.
“We thought it better to take it to the grand jury and let them provide their opinion,” Anchors said.
A Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputy served several grand jury subpoenas at the conclusion of an emergency meeting held four days before Christmas, something that caught the attention of at least one of the handful of residents in attendance.
Walton Sheriff Michael Adkinson defended his deputy’s decision to use the public meeting setting to streamline the service of multiple subpoenas.
“They were served after the meeting was over and there were about four people standing around,” the sheriff said. “The deputy didn’t interrupt the meeting. I don’t really have a problem with it since all five (council members to receive subpoenas) were in one place.”
Along with Campbell, who did not respond to a request for comment, and Wright,who took the attorney’s report of mismanagement to the State Attorney’s Office, council members Ron Kelley, Henry Ennis, Janie Griffith and Wayne Graham have been subpoenaed.
Also subpoenaed or facing subpoena are former council members Mac Work and Mac Carpenter, City Clerk Loretta Laird, Finance Department employee Morgan Huilon and former City Manager Sara Bowers.
The subpoena issued to Wright calls for him to show up at the Walton County Courthouse at 9 a.m. for the week of Jan. 16. It states failure to comply with the summons could subject him to possible contempt of court charges.
www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20171231/11-past-present-defuniak-officials-told-to-appear-before-grand-jury
Dunno who raised the issue of the subpoenas being served at the council meeting, but I agree with the Sheriff. It was done after the meeting and why not kill 5 birds with one stone? Makes perfect sense to me.
There are at least 2 that now reside in other Counties who I would hope are also served by the Sheriff's in their respective Counties...Joe Brown the finance director who is hugely responsible for the fine mess the City is in and ex interim City Manager Tilman Mears.
Bob Campbell not responding is sorta comical because back in July when the State Attorney announced they were looking into the fine mess he helped create he was granting interviews to every news station in the tri county who wanted to listen. The night he was served you would have thought his backside was on fire because he couldn't get out the building fast enough. His secretary should have been served but wasn't! She knew about the letters from the State Auditors and never opened her mouth.
The good news in all this is Clayton Adkinson can't direct the Council in how to answer or object to lines of questioning. Of those served that night, I believe 4 of them will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
There are at least 2 that now reside in other Counties who I would hope are also served by the Sheriff's in their respective Counties...Joe Brown the finance director who is hugely responsible for the fine mess the City is in and ex interim City Manager Tilman Mears.
Bob Campbell not responding is sorta comical because back in July when the State Attorney announced they were looking into the fine mess he helped create he was granting interviews to every news station in the tri county who wanted to listen. The night he was served you would have thought his backside was on fire because he couldn't get out the building fast enough. His secretary should have been served but wasn't! She knew about the letters from the State Auditors and never opened her mouth.
The good news in all this is Clayton Adkinson can't direct the Council in how to answer or object to lines of questioning. Of those served that night, I believe 4 of them will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
The problem with a grand jury is it's up to the state attorneys what they show they grand jury. That was proven in the meadows/jones case. Crucified by state attorney but meadows had all charges dropped by a judge in summary judgement and then exonerated by the ethics commission. Same attorneys handled that for the SA's office.. All I am saying is, if the powers at be don't understand (Yeah, Right ) that if any of the chosen get indicted, then our good ole state attorneys son Bill Eddins Jr. won't get elected to the school board. This should be handled by a state attorneys office from somewhere in the middle of Florida. It is amazing what wasn't shown to the grand jury in the First Great Grand Jury Debacle....... 
) that if any of the chosen get indicted, then our good ole state attorneys son Bill Eddins Jr. won't get elected to the school board. This should be handled by a state attorneys office from somewhere in the middle of Florida. It is amazing what wasn't shown to the grand jury in the First Great Grand Jury Debacle....... 
The problem with a grand jury is it's up to the state attorneys what they show they grand jury. That was proven in the meadows/jones case. Crucified by state attorney but meadows had all charges dropped by a judge in summary judgement and then exonerated by the ethics commission. Same attorneys handled that for the SA's office.. All I am saying is, if the powers at be don't understand (Yeah, Right
I have no doubt there is going to be a fall guy...1. There should be 4. It's my heartfelt belief from everything I learned, that Bob Campbell (Mayor) and Joe Brown conspired with one another to make the Council look bad in regard to the incomplete audits and the $221,000 in state funding the City lost. Mac Carpenter spent a lot of time in the Mayor's office (sunshine violations) and used a county vehicle which he parked outside City Hall (until the County put a stop to him using said vehicle to conduct City business) and to add insult to injury, Carpenter said in a very public meeting (like people were just stupid and would believe it because he said it) that, "those letters mean nothing, every City get's them". He also knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mayor Campbell had received those notices and failed to tell his fellow Council members, which he could well have done at any public meeting.
Sara Bowers left the City in part because the City was being sued by 2 police officers who were wrongfully terminated and have since been reinstated. Not only was she the City Manager who agreed to terminate them but prior to becoming City Manager she was the finance director. The $368,063.00 the city obtained through a 2014 legal settlement with British Petroleum mysteriously became unaccounted for under her watch and Joe Brown was finance director. Clayton Adkinson set her up with a very healthy settlement agreement and a promise from the City she would not be prosecuted for discrepancies. Some things just make ya go hmmm! If Clayton Adkinson didn't know there were discrepancies...in my opinion that settlement agreement wasn't even necessary. According to at least 1 Council member at that point, they just wanted her gone. Who wouldn't take a lucrative settlement agreement, with a promise not to prosecute and a new job the City Attorney helps you get in another City which he also reigns over?
You're right...it is a train wreck and people who also knew of those letters never received a subpoena that should have including the Mayor's secretary.
One thing is certain, I don't expect much so I probably won't be disappointed in the outcome.
Bob Campbell seems to think it was perfectly acceptable to disregard NUMEROUS letters from the State telling the City they would lose $221 thousand dollars in revenue and there was no wrong doing!
www.wjhg.com/video?vid=467753083
www.wjhg.com/video?vid=467753083