Victims angry over circuit judge's leniency

By JOSE CARDENAS
Published March 29, 2007

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CLEARWATER - Until prosecutors charged him with stealing money from candidates last year, Peter Schorsch was once one of the most promising young political consultants in the Tampa Bay area.

That career appears officially over now that Schorsch has pleaded no contest to three felony charges that he bilked two candidates and a political club during the 2005 election cycle.

But thanks to a judge's leniency for the second time in Schorsch's life, he will keep his right to vote.

The charges stemmed from money he received in 2005 for work he didn't do on the campaigns of Eve Joy and Ed Helm, who ran for St. Petersburg City Council and mayor, respectively, in 2005, and from the Greater Tarpon Springs Democratic Club.

"He stole my money, squandered my chance of winning the election and stole my time," Joy said in a letter to Pinellas Circuit Court Judge Joseph Bulone.

Schorsch last week pleaded no contest to two grand-theft charges and one scheme-to-defraud charge. He was sentenced to two years of house arrest, three years of probation and must pay almost $10,000 in restitution.

Over the objections of both Joy and Helm, Bulone agreed to withhold adjudication, which means Schorsch won't have a record as a convicted felon. He will keep his civil liberties such as voting. Previously, Schorsch had adjudication withheld on charges he'd written 16 worthless checks to a Publix store.

Schorsch had faced up to 15 years in prison. He also still has not paid a $66,500 fine levied in 2006 by the Florida Elections Commission for unrelated election violations.