MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Former Marion County sheriff Chris Blair has resigned from office and has withdrawn from the upcoming sheriff’s election, as part of a plea agreement, according to a news release from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Blair was in court earlier this year and entered a not guilty plea on perjury charges, but Friday, the State Attorney's Office announced a plea agreement for Blair.
Gov. Scott removed Blair from office in May after he was accused of lying about the use of excessive force by his deputies.
Video showed Blair looking at convict Dustin Heathman as Heathman is being led into a sheriff's vehicle with visible facial injuries.
Heathman said the injuries were caused by deputies beating him after he was in custody, and that he did not resist.
But records showed Blair told a grand jury he did not see Heathman's face.
The report released Friday said that “the past 3 1/2 years have been very difficult for many in this community and for most of the employees at the sheriff’s office.”
“Today, we come to a time when the healing that my staff and I started on May 20 may continue unimpeded by the distraction of the former sheriff's involvement in the upcoming August primary,” said Marion County Sheriff Emery Gainey.
Gainey said he supports the plea agreement.
Channel 9 learned details about Blair’s Kiosk program.
According to documents released by the State Attorney’s Office, they began investigating and discovered that Blair and former Chief Deputy Fred Latorre had a financial interest in the company.
Officials said they discovered the details after Latorre's computer was seized and examined.
Latorre abruptly retired after Blair was forced out.
According to the documents, the two marketed the Kiosk and tried to profit from sales to other agencies throughout Florida and across the county.
Blair faced jail time for misconduct and perjury charges, but he accepted a plea deal. He'll avoid incarceration as long as he follows prosecutors' recommendations.
Cox Media Group
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