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Another Escambia plea deal isolates Childers
The former Florida Senate president is the only commissioner still facing trial on felony charges.
©Associated Press
August 15, 2002
PENSACOLA -- A second suspended Escambia County commissioner has agreed to a plea deal, leaving only one ex-commissioner, former Florida Senate President W.D. Childers, still facing trial on bribery and other felony charges.
Mike Bass entered an agreement Tuesday with prosecutors, who agreed to drop all felony charges against him in exchange for no-contest pleas to two misdemeanor charges of violating Florida's open government Sunshine Law.
A third suspended commissioner, Willie Junior, earlier agreed to plead guilty to 12 charges, including bribery related to the county's purchase of a former soccer complex, and testify against other defendants. In exchange, he is promised a prison term of no more than 18 months.
Childers and a fourth suspended commissioner, Terry Smith, have been convicted of Sunshine violations for privately talking about public business with each other. Both are appealing.
Each Sunshine count is punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
Childers does not yet have a trial date on felony counts of bribery, money laundering and offering unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior. If convicted on all three counts, he could face up to 25 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
He is accused of bribing Junior last year to vote for the county's purchase of the old soccer complex for $3.9-million from Childers' friend, Joe Elliott, and his wife, Georgann, both real estate brokers. The Elliotts also have been charged with bribery and other crimes related to the sale.
Gov. Jeb Bush has replaced all four indicted commissioners, leaving the county board with one elected member.
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