Lawson Lamar .com

DISCLAIMER:  THIS IS A POLITICAL WEB SITE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC REGARDING OPINIONS ABOUT LAWSON LAMAR. IT IS NOT THE PERSONAL HOME PAGE OF LAWSON LAMAR, STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA

INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS OF POLITICAL FIGURES

The newspaper articles reveal who Lamar has prosecuted and his success record at prosecuting political figures.  A series of articles in the Sentinel:

- Doug Guetzloe gets  $2556 to cover expense of trial (author unknown), 3/2/95, page C-3.  Guetzloe was the political consultant to Ford Hausman, former Orange County Property Appraiser.

- A series of articles by Gerard Shields May 24, 1995; May 31, 1995; June 3, 1995; July 4, 1995; July 5, 1995; August 9, 1995; September 16, 1995, regarding Ford Hausman: June 3, 1995, page A-1 Weeping with joy, Ford Hausman is acquitted by judge.  Said one juror:  I think he gave us 25 good years. I'm ashamed he had to go through this.  Hausman was 84 years old when he was charged with a felony.  His pension was withheld pending the resolution of his trial.

- Hausman associate cleared; A judge threw out charges against James House, ruling that there was no evidence of wrongdoing against him by Gerard Shields, 6/5/95, Page C-1.  House was 72 years old at the time of his trial.

- Hausman, aide win fees for legal fight; Judge awards the $20,000 in a case in which the men were cleared of altering a contract in the property appraiser's office by Gerard Shields, 9/16/95, Page D-1.

- Chapin: Hausman is owed $56,413 (for expenses relating to his criminal case), article by Kevin Spear, 5/3/96, Page D1.  Ultimately, it is all taxpayer dollars Chapin said

- Orlando Sentinel, Editorial February 19, 1996, page A-18 Justice loses once again referring to legal problems (erroneous jury instruction) in the trial of Billy Brady, a young black male charged with attempted murder of an Orange County deputy. Vose was co-counsel in the trial. The lead counsel was an African American misdemeanor level attorney. (There were at that time few black Assistant State Attorneys employed by that office). It is by Florida law the prosecutor who is responsible for the presentation of his case from start to finish, including catching mistakes in jury instructions before the case goes to the jury for deliberations.  Protesters picketed the actions of the judge on the courthouse steps for an erroneous jury instruction, according to a related story.

- Charges will not be filed against ex-director of the arena by Dan Tracy, 1/4/96, Page A-1.  She lost her job and faced the prospect of unemployment (No one would hire me as long as the cloud was hanging over me) and loss of her pension, but after a 15-month investigation, no charges were filed. She sued the City of Orlando. 

- Lamar investigated a candidate who ran against the individual endorsed by Lamar for Sheriff of Orange County, for alleged grand theft charges according to an Orlando Sentinel article that ran before the election.  Once the election was over, the Sentinel announced the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.

- Lamar investigated Mayor Grant of Eatonville in a highly publicized case: but no criminal charges were filed.

- Lamar investigated former State Representative Alzo Reddick, Jr.  The Sentinel reported, on July 10, 1996, in an article on page A-1, by Michael Griffin and Roger Roy (Investigation targets Orlando legislator's business dealing) about a 2 1/2 year investigation that led to no criminal charges, but a censure vote in the Florida House of Representatives for an ethics violation for what some called sloppy record-keeping.  Most felony crimes have a 3-year statute of limitations.  Lamar's office was looking into allegations dating as far back as 1990, and including alleged federal income tax violations.  Lamar's office referred the case to the U.S. Attorney's office to prosecute, and claimed the decision by that office not to was racially motivated.  Reddick himself estimated the cost of the investigation at up to $1 million in this case. FDLE, which assisted Lamar, put the tab for per diem, travel and meals at $25,824.10 (at $3 for breakfasts, $6 lunches, $12 for dinner and $50 per diem for overnight staysbut this does not include the cost of the salaries of the top lawyers and investigators who spent time doing this investigation and not some other vital investigation).

- Orange County Commissioner Bob Freeman posed a possible political challenge to Mel Martinez for the Orange County Chairman race: Orlando Sentinel, May 23, 1997, page D-1, Freeman asks for independent probe by Cory Lancaster.  Saying the State Attorney's office is playing politics, County Commissioner Bob Freeman asked the Governor on Thursday to appoint an independent prosecutor to investigate his alleged wrongdoing in a big rezoning case.  He also wants a special prosecutor to review State Attorney Lawson Lamar's handling of the investigation.  Freeman's attorney said, Lamar is trying to embarrass Commissioner Freeman personally and politicallyeffectively sabotaging his political aspirations.

- The follow up story?  Orlando Sentinel, May 29, 1997, page A-1, Probe of Freeman closedlack of evidence cited by Kevin Spear.  After a 7 month investigation, the result was no criminal charges and Freeman out of the race.

See also 1996 Orlando Sentinel articles concerning Leland McKee, a candidate for the Clerk of the Court position running in 1996 against incumbent Fran Carlton. Lawson had signed an endorsement of Carlton for re-election, then his office prosecuted McKee for extortion charges unrelated to the election. Carlton won re-election. A very similar fact pattern as in the McKee case arose involving then Sheriff Lamar's Chief Administrator, Mel Jones, see the Orlando Sentinel, "Sheriff Probes Treatment of Homeowners President," by Lauren Ritchie, Thursday, November 13, 1986, Local/State, Page D8 and "Probe Turns up no Threats by Sheriff's Official," also by Lauren Ritchie, Wednesday, December 24, 1986, Local/State, Page B4. A Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs investigation concluded the complainant "misunderstood" the "friendly advice" Jones gave her about backing off on pressuring the Sheriff's office to enforce a noise ordinance for fear some negative information about her could somehow become public knowledge.