Thursday, June 1, 2023
#1 News Source in Sebastian, Florida
FEEDBACK
Sebastian Daily
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Schools
    • Traffic
  • Newsletter
  • Calendar
  • Fishing
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
  • Advertising
  • More
    • Feedback
    • 2022 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian, Florida
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
      • Best Wings in Sebastian
    • Health Inspections
    • Letters to the Editor
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Schools
    • Traffic
  • Newsletter
  • Calendar
  • Fishing
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
  • Advertising
  • More
    • Feedback
    • 2022 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian, Florida
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
      • Best Wings in Sebastian
    • Health Inspections
    • Letters to the Editor
No Result
View All Result
Sebastian Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home Crime News and Arrests in Sebastian, Florida

Criminal Trial for 2 Former Sebastian City Council Members Moved to May 3, 2021.

Andy Hodges by Andy Hodges
Jan 7, 2021 / 10:22 AM
A A
Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris arrested on June 17, 2020.

Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris arrested on June 17, 2020.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Former Sebastian City Council members Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris will have their criminal trial moved from Jan. 11, 2021, to May 3, 2021, according to Indian River County Judge David C. Morgan. 

Morgan said the decision to move the date was based on the expected length of the trial, the high number of witnesses, a recent Supreme Court order further limiting trials, and the fact that a vaccine is forthcoming. 

Gilliams is standing trial on three counts of violating the Florida Sunshine Law and one count of perjury.

Parris is facing one count of violating the Florida Sunshine Law and three counts of perjury after she, too, allegedly lied to investigators.

Gilliams and Parris were arrested for the charges on June 17, 2020.

The charges stem from a nonpublic meeting that took place inside City Hall on April 22, 2020. A regular scheduled City Council meeting was canceled earlier by City Manager Paul Carlisle after public outcry from citizens expressing COVID-19 concerns. 

Emails collected by Sebastian Daily show Gilliams and Parris allegedly acknowledged the meeting was canceled. However, they had a meeting anyway, without Charter officers, in the dark, and with the doors locked.

During the meeting, they appointed Gilliams as the new mayor and attempted to fire the City Attorney, City Manager, and the City Clerk. The meeting was recorded on video.

Citizens called the meeting an illegal coup, and a takeover of the City of Sebastian during a pandemic. The State Attorney’s Office said the nonpublic meeting was unlawful and violated numerous Sunshine Laws.

The former city council members and the City of Sebastian are still facing a lawsuit over the Sunshine Law violations by government defender Michael Barfield. 

In a separate case, Pamela Parris was found guilty for violating the Sunshine Law with former councilman Charles Mauti. Both had to pay fines, but were a lesser charge than the criminal case now pending for both Gilliams and Parris.

On Sept. 15, 2020, Gilliams, Parris, and Mauti were removed from office after Sebastian citizens voted in a recall election. Nearly 94 percent of voters removed them.

  • 5,935 votes (94%) were cast to remove Pamela Parris
  • 5,920 votes (93%) were cast to remove Damien Gilliams
  • 5,780 votes (92%) were cast to remove Charles Mauti

Sebastian voters replaced the three with Bob McPartlan, Christopher Nunn, and Fred Jones.

Parris has yet to take accountability for her actions by blaming the press and local critics. Local residents say she’s playing the victim again on her Facebook page.

“I believe I have served my city to the best of my ability against all odds, false press, and criticism,” she wrote on Facebook.

Gilliams has tried to sue everyone, including the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and even the Mayor of Sebastian. The lawsuits were dismissed.

The Sebastian recall was historic and was the first successful recall in the State of Florida. It was also the first time in the United States that the majority of a sitting council was removed from public office.

Latest Sebastian Video

.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jun 1
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Leafy Greens Band at Capt Hirams Sandbar

Jun 1
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Ken Snyder at Rosie’s Bottoms Up

Jun 1
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Recurring

Pints & Tunes with Pat Kirchner at Mash Monkeys Brewing Co.

View Calendar
Previous Post

Florida Attorney General Warns of Scams Related to the Federal Payments

Next Post

Man arrested after throwing objects and punching a Sebastian motorist

Next Post
Jon Gillian

Man arrested after throwing objects and punching a Sebastian motorist

MORE FROM SEBASTIAN DAILY

Brown pelican in Sebastian, Florida.

What’s it like living in Sebastian, Florida?

June 1, 2023
Tropical Depression Two / NOAA

Tropical Depression Two May Intensify, Threaten Florida with Rain

June 1, 2023
Sebastian Inlet Fishing

Sebastian Prepares for Two License-Free Fishing Weekends in June

June 1, 2023
Food distribution center / Treasure Coast Food Bank

Treasure Coast Food Bank Bolsters 2023 Hurricane Preparedness

June 1, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jun 1
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Leafy Greens Band at Capt Hirams Sandbar

Jun 1
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Recurring

Ken Snyder at Rosie’s Bottoms Up

Jun 1
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Recurring

Pints & Tunes with Pat Kirchner at Mash Monkeys Brewing Co.

Jun 1
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Kenny & Connie at Earl’s Hideaway Lounge

Jun 1
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Recurring

Karaoke at Tiki Bar & Grill

View Calendar
Sebastian Daily

Newspaper in Sebastian, Florida. Trusted news in Indian River County and Sebastian, Florida. Sebastian Daily offers hometown news, reviews, obituaries, weather, and hurricane updates.

Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Signup for Newsletter

Mailing Address

Sebastian Daily, LLC
1603 U.S. Highway 1
Suite 102
Sebastian, Florida 32958

For advertising services or to post an obituary, please call Tina at 772-925-5221.

© 2023 Sebastian Daily. All Rights Reserved. Sebastian Daily® is a registered trademark of Sebastian Daily, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Schools
    • Traffic
  • Calendar
  • Features
    • 2022 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
      • Best Wings in Sebastian
    • Health Inspections
  • Obituaries
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Advertising
  • Weather
  • Fishing Report
  • FEEDBACK
  • Newsletter

© 2023 Sebastian Daily. All Rights Reserved. Sebastian Daily® is a registered trademark of Sebastian Daily, LLC.