A felony perjury cost in opposition to former Broward County Public Colleges Superintendent Robert Runcie was dropped Monday, ending a high-profile authorized battle that started 4 years in the past.
Runcie was arrested in 2021 after being accused of mendacity to a statewide grand jury that was investigating faculty security failures and spending practices following the 2018 Parkland capturing. Prosecutors say Runcie falsely claimed he had not ready for his testimony. They introduced proof that he spoke with then-district procurement director Mary Coker two days earlier than testifying, which they argue contradicts his sworn statements.
Though Broward County Circuit Choose Martin Fein dismissed the cost in 2023, the 4th District Court docket of Attraction revived it final 12 months. Runcie’s trial was set to begin Monday, with jury choice scheduled that morning.
Nevertheless, prosecutors and Runcie’s protection reached a pretrial settlement, avoiding trial. Reporting from the Sun Sentinel explains the decision: “Runcie agreed to acknowledge he made unfaithful statements however not acknowledge perjury. He additionally agreed to not violate the legislation for six months and to pay $4,741.52 for the prices of prosecution.”
Runcie, in an announcement included within the settlement, stated: “On April 1, 2021, I used to be positioned underneath oath earlier than the Twentieth Florida Statewide Grand Jury. Whereas underneath oath I gave solutions to questions. Though I didn’t intend to commit perjury earlier than the Grand Jury, a few of these solutions had been deceptive, inaccurate, and due to this fact unfaithful.”
Richard Mantei, a prosecutor for the state, instructed the Solar Sentinel: “It is a disposition that’s typically reached with low-level, third-degree felonies, which this one is.”
The authorized combat centered on whether or not the grand jury had jurisdiction, as Choose Fein initially dominated it didn’t, arguing fees require crimes spanning a number of jurisdictions. The appellate court docket disagreed, citing Runcie’s testimony being broadcast to jurors in a number of counties through videoconference.
Mike Dutko, Runcie’s lawyer, instructed the Solar Sentinel exterior the courtroom: “After the hearings earlier than the court docket and a number of the rulings the court docket made, each events, the state and the protection, fastidiously assessed the scenario, and that gave rise to some conversations into the evening Thursday evening and Friday morning towards a decision. And the decision finally is that whereas Mr. Runcie has acknowledged that a number of the responses he gave might have been unclear, our place had this proceeded to trial was that a number of the questions themselves weren’t particular and due to this fact unclear. And the events have come to an settlement that there was maybe an absence of readability on each side, and this decision is the results of that.”
Robert Runcie was the primary individual of Caribbean descent to function Broward’s superintendent. He led the district for a decade earlier than stepping down in 2021. His tenure included elevating commencement charges, bettering colleges, and interesting minority communities, incomes recognition at state and nationwide ranges. Born in poverty in Jamaica, Runcie was the primary in his household to attend school, graduating from Harvard. Regardless of criticism, he retained sturdy help from South Florida’s Black and Afro-Caribbean communities.
The settlement requires Runcie to pay all court docket prices and never violate the legislation over the subsequent six months, with the state retaining the choice to refile fees if phrases are breached.
