Less than a month after she was arrested, the state attorney dropped all charges against Gina Sultaire. Her attorney Andrew Metcalf said it was the right decision.
“I provided proof that the monies in question were used to pay funeral expenses for her father. There was no crime committed in this case. Prior to his death, her father executed a Durable Power of Attorney, so money transfers prior to death were not an issue. Ms. Sultaire is glad to put this behind her,” Metcalf told Sebastian Daily.
Detectives accused Sultaire, a school counselor In Sebastian, of fraud because she transferred funds from his father’s bank account after he passed. Sultaire told police she moved the monies to pay for her father’s funeral arrangements.
In Florida, the person named in the Durable Power of Attorney document can make financial transactions. Metcalf stated his client had the authority, and it was not illegal for her to transfer monies.
Sultaire’s arrest drew criticism from many community members about how the police handled the case. They were also shocked that her arrest was made public by the media.
School counselors are Public Figures in most states, including Florida, making arrests public since they work with children regardless of the charge.
