03-12-2009, 12:50 AM
The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco is looking into a complaint that Wakulla County Sheriff David Harvey may be in violation of a state law by having a business interest in a club that sells alcohol, said Alexis Antonacci, spokeswoman for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Advertisement
A newly formed citizens' group called Wakulla 411 this week sent a letter to State Attorney Willie Meggs asking him to do the same.
Harvey is listed as a co-owner of the limited liability company that runs the golfing operation for the Wildwood Country Club, 3870 Coastal Highway. His wife, Rhonda, is listed as co-owner of a second LLC, the one that holds the club's alcoholic-beverage license. The group notes that the sheriff has been given the owner/employee discount when buying alcohol, as the State Attorney's Office investigation into his Feb. 20 hit-and-run crash uncovered.
In the letter, the group accuses Harvey of violating Florida statute 561.25, which states no sheriff is permitted to be employed, directly or indirectly, by any business that sells alcohol; or own stock or interest in a business that sells alcohol. A violation is a second-degree misdemeanor and would result in automatic suspension or removal from office.
Harvey's lawyer, Fred Conrad, said: "The way I read the statute, that's completely permissible for the sheriff's wife to own something that the sheriff cannot."
Meggs declined to comment about the complaint Tuesday afternoon, since he had not yet read the group's letter, but he said he would likely refer it to the appropriate agency, such as ABT.
The complaint ABT is investigating was received Feb. 26, Antonacci said.
Crawfordville resident Suzanne M. Smith was listed as the return address on the letter from Wakulla 411. She was not available for comment Tuesday.
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090311/NEWS01/903110335
Advertisement
A newly formed citizens' group called Wakulla 411 this week sent a letter to State Attorney Willie Meggs asking him to do the same.
Harvey is listed as a co-owner of the limited liability company that runs the golfing operation for the Wildwood Country Club, 3870 Coastal Highway. His wife, Rhonda, is listed as co-owner of a second LLC, the one that holds the club's alcoholic-beverage license. The group notes that the sheriff has been given the owner/employee discount when buying alcohol, as the State Attorney's Office investigation into his Feb. 20 hit-and-run crash uncovered.
In the letter, the group accuses Harvey of violating Florida statute 561.25, which states no sheriff is permitted to be employed, directly or indirectly, by any business that sells alcohol; or own stock or interest in a business that sells alcohol. A violation is a second-degree misdemeanor and would result in automatic suspension or removal from office.
Harvey's lawyer, Fred Conrad, said: "The way I read the statute, that's completely permissible for the sheriff's wife to own something that the sheriff cannot."
Meggs declined to comment about the complaint Tuesday afternoon, since he had not yet read the group's letter, but he said he would likely refer it to the appropriate agency, such as ABT.
The complaint ABT is investigating was received Feb. 26, Antonacci said.
Crawfordville resident Suzanne M. Smith was listed as the return address on the letter from Wakulla 411. She was not available for comment Tuesday.
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090311/NEWS01/903110335