Former Sebastian City Council member, Pamela Parris, has suffered yet another setback as she lost another appeal Monday in her ongoing legal battle.
Parris, who served on the council for 10 months before being recalled, has been fighting to overturn a conviction related to allegations of perjury and a Sunshine Law violation while in office.
However, the Fourth District Court of Appeals ruled against her, upholding the previous decision and maintaining her conviction.
With this recent development, Parris’s legal team is evaluating their options for further appeal. However, legal experts suggest that the chances of success may be diminishing, given the previous rulings against her.
Parris’s future in terms of her legal battles remains uncertain as she faces the consequences of her actions as a former public servant.
The former Sebastian council member may have exhausted all her options as the court may now move forward with issuing an order to send her to jail to serve her 90-day sentence.
This comes after Damien Gilliams, another former city council member, also lost his request for a rehearing with the Fourth District Court of Appeals last week. Gilliams was sentenced to 45 days in jail.
Both Parris and Gilliams were removed from their positions in public office following the Sebastian recall in 2021, after serving ten months as city council members.
Their removal stemmed from their involvement in an illegal meeting, which resulted in charges of perjury and violations of the Sunshine Law.
A jury found Parris and Gilliams guilty on May 27, 2021, of perjury and violating the Sunshine Law during their tenure in public office.
Subsequently, on September 14, 2021, 19th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Linn handed down the sentences for Gilliams and Parris.
With Parris losing another appeal, she may soon face the consequences of her actions as the court prepares to enforce her 90-day jail sentence.
This marks a significant turn in the legal battle surrounding the former council members, adding another chapter to their tumultuous political journey.
Pamela Parris, who used to be part of the Sebastian City Council, had another defeat in court on Monday. She’s been trying to fight a guilty ruling about lying under oath and breaking the Sunshine Law when she was on the council.
Parris was on the council for 10 months before being voted out. She’s been trying to fight the ruling, but the Fourth District Court of Appeals said the previous decision was correct and she is still guilty.
Now, Parris’s lawyers are trying to figure out what to do next. Legal experts think it might be hard for her to win because she’s already lost so many times in court.
It’s unclear what will happen to Parris next. She might have used up all her chances to appeal, which means the court could decide it’s time for her to serve her 90-day jail sentence.
This comes after another former council member, Damien Gilliams, also lost his request for a do-over in court last week. Gilliams was given a 45-day jail sentence.
Both Parris and Gilliams were taken out of their council positions after the Sebastian Recall. They were on the council for ten months. They were removed by voters because they were part of an illegal meeting, which led to charges of lying under oath and breaking the Sunshine Law.
A jury convicted Parris and Gilliams on May 27, 2021. Then, on September 14, 2021, Judge Michael Linn of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court gave them their sentences.
Since Parris lost another opportunity to challenge the court’s decision, she may soon have to start her 90-day jail sentence.
This marks a significant turn in the legal battle surrounding the former council members, adding another chapter to their tumultuous political journey.
