Feb 14, 2008 8:05 pm US/Eastern
Miami City Attorney Resigns, Cuts Plea Deal
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Jorge Fernandez, Miami City Attorney
CBS
Under criminal investigation for suspected misuse of his expense account, Miami City Attorney Jorge Fernandez handed in his letter of resignation Thursday afternoon and will plead no contest to two counts of making false official statements.
As part of a plea deal, of pleading no contest, Fernandez will not face any felony counts in return. His resignation will become effective February 19th.
Fernandez did not offer any comments to the media as he was followed into the commission chambers Thursday.
CBS4 revealed last week that a plea arrangement had been brokered, and that corruption investigators were livid that the state attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle would agree to such a deal; one saying, "It's not just. Other public employees have been prosecuted much more severely for doing much less. This is ridiculous."
Fernandez was accused of spending thousands of dollars on large tabs that were submitted in expense reports for reimbursement, without detailed explanation. Some of those charges included $400 for a Christmas party, $530 for a meal at a steakhouse and more than $15-hundred at the Rusty Pelican for a graduation party for his son.
CBS4 learned that Miami police investigators in December swore out an arrest warrant for Fernandez, charging him with multiple felony counts of Grand Theft and Official Misconduct. That arrest warrant languished at the State Attorney's Office, and now some of those close to the investigation are outraged that Fernandez will only face misdemeanor charges.
As part of his plea deal, Fernandez will be adjudicated as guilty; he will serve a year's probation and make restitution to the city in the amount of $3,093.44. During his probation period, Fernandez has agreed not to seek employment in the public sector.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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