The ongoing saga with Damien Gilliams, the former city councilman, has taken another turn as a 19th Circuit Court Judge permitted him to leave jail on a supersedes bond while his appeal to the Supreme Court is pending.
The decision, made by Judge Robert Meadows on Tuesday, means that Gilliams is allowed to post bond. Gilliams’ attorney said he anticipated the release to come Tuesday afternoon.
Last week, Judge Meadows denied an emergency order releasing Gilliams from jail.
Should the Supreme Court deny Gilliams’ appeal, he will be required to return to jail to fulfill the rest of his sentence.
Similarly, Pamela Parris, another former Sebastian city council member found guilty of perjury and Sunshine Law violations, is also appealing to the Supreme Court. Should the Supreme Court deny her appeal, she will be required to return to jail to complete her sentence.
The Fourth District Court of Appeals explained that this case’s scenario was alarming. In its opinion, the court said that three elected Sebastian City Council members were discovered engaging in private discussions about governmental matters. The court underscored that the Florida Sunshine Law is universally binding, affecting everyone regardless of rank or electoral standing.
In November 2019, Gilliams and Parris were elected to the Sebastian City Council amidst one of the lowest voter turnouts ever recorded. However, ten months later, they were ousted from their positions through the Sebastian recall by residents who voted for their removal.
