[B]Scott Brannon pleads guilty to multiple ethics violations[/B] August 5, 2008 - 4:20PM TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Walton County Commissioner Scott Brannon plead guilty to multiple Florida State Constitution ethics violations and agreed to a fine in a plea arrangement with the Florida Ethics Commission. The 17 Count Complaint filed in September 2007 by a Walton County citizen highlighted discrepancies concerning his Full and Public Financial Disclosures in 2003, 2005, and 2006. The Commission found probable cause and began an investigation. After a preliminary investigation the Ethics Commission Investigators agreed with the Complainant allegations on virtually every violation listed in the complaint. The Commissions Report is now available to the public made possible by the recent guilty plea arrangement. In his investigative report Ethics Commission Investigator K. Travis Wade said, (Brannon)[I] 'acknowledged that he mistakenly failed to report a Certificate of Deposit as an asset on his form. Although calls to the Respondent to determine the value of the CD ([/I]Certificate of Deposit[I]) in 2005 were not returned, he valued the CD at $96,571.00 on his 3003 Commission on Ethics Form 6X (amending the 2003 CE Form 1) and as $515,000.00 on his 2006 CE Form 6X (amending his 2006 CE Form 1).' [/I] Wade also said in his report; [I]'The Respondent [/I](Brannon)[I] advised by telephone that although he reported his ownership in Four Mile Land Company, as an asset, he forgot to report his 50% ownership in Four Mile Land or his 50% ownership in FR Industries as an asset[/I].' All Companies are located in Freeport, FL. The investigators report contains 40 other notes corresponding to the investigation. The guilty plea arrangement, signed by Commissioner Brannon, must be approved by the full Ethics Commission in a public meeting on Sept. 5, 2008 at the Florida Senate Building in Tallahassee. The Commission must adjudicate the case or continue the investigation. Brannon retains the right to withdraw the guilty plea should the investigation into his finances continue. [URL]http://www.waltonsun.com/news/ethics_1952___article.html/guilty_multiple.html[/URL]
