Source: https://criminaldefenseattorneytampa.com/career-consequences/official-misconduct/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 04:28:03+00:00

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The criminal offense of official misconduct under Florida Statute Section 838.022 is a felony offense. The crime is considered a felonious breach of the public trust with can lead to the forfeiture of retirement and pension benefits as a “specified offense” under Florida Statute Section 112.3173. Call us to learn more about the career consequences that occur after such a serious accusation.
If you were charged with Official Misconduct then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Sammis Law Firm to discuss your case. We represent public servants including law enforcement officers for charges of official misconduct and related charges such as unlawful compensation for official behavior. Call our office to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your charges.
Who Can be Charged with Official Misconduct?
Any “public servant” can be charged with the crime, including law enforcement officers or other city, state or county employees. The term “public servant” does not include someone who is simply a candidate running for county sheriff or another pubic servant position.
Any person, except a witness, who acts as a general or special magistrate, receiver, auditor, arbitrator, umpire, referee, consultant, or hearing officer while performing a governmental function.
Effective October 1, 2003, the statute was rewritten as section 838.022, Florida Statutes, and the former version of the Official Misconduct Statute Section 839.25, Florida Statutes, was repealed.
obstructed, delayed, or prevented the communication of information relating to the commission of a felony that directly involved or affected the public agency or public entity served by the public servant (subsection 838.022(A)(3)).
The Florida Supreme Court approved standard jury instructions for this charge that were adopted in 2013.
Florida law under Florida Statute § 838.014(1) defines the term “benefit” which means to to gain an advantage or gain anything regarded by the person to be benefited as a gain or advantage, including the doing of an act beneficial to any person in whose welfare he or she is interested, including any commission, gift, gratuity, property, commercial interest, or any other thing of economic value not authorized by law.
The term “harm” is defined under Florida Statute § 838.014(5) to mean pecuniary or other loss, disadvantage, or injury to the person affected.
Under Florida Statute § 838.022(2)(b) the term “official record” or “official document” includes only public records. The term “public records” are defined under Florida Statute § 119.011(12) to mean all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, regardless of the physical form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.
Florida law also provides that such conduct only constitutes a crime when done with “corrupt” intent to obtain a benefit for any person or to cause harm to another. The term “corrupt” means “done with knowledge that act is wrongful and with improper motives.” See Hames v. City of Miami Firefighters’ & Police Officers’ Trust, 980 So. 2d 1112, 1117 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2008). Furthermore, under Florida law for the felony offense of “official misconduct,” it is the prosecutor’s burden to prove that the person accused acted with the intent to benefit himself or another or with the intent to cause harm to another.
Thus, the term “with corrupt intent” is defined under Florida Statute § 838.014(4) to mean knowingly and dishonestly for a wrongful purpose.
The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm represent individuals charged with the felony offense of Official Misconduct in Florida particular for cases in the Tampa Bay area including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County and Hernando County, FL. Contact an attorney to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss the particular facts of your case. If you are under investigation for “Official Misconduct” under Florida Statute Section 838.022 then call us today to discuss your case at (813) 250-0500.

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