Jury Finds Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris Guilty of Perjury and Violating Sunshine Law

A jury of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida in Indian River County has found former Council members Damien Giliams and Pamela Parris guilty of perjury and Sunshine Law violations. The jury delivered the verdict Thursday afternoon.

Assistant State Attorney Lev Evans credits State investigator Ed Arens and the City of Sebastian for gathering evidence in the case.

“Investigator Arens and the City of Sebastian worked hard to gather a mountain of evidence that made the jury’s job a bit easier,” Evans told Sebastian Daily.

Gilliams was found guilty on Counts 1-4:

• Count 1 – Guilty of Violation of the Sunshine Law/Public Meetings Law (The allegation involving the April 22 meeting at City Hall)
• Count 2 – Guilty of Violation of the Sunshine Law/Public Meetings Law (The allegation involving telephone conversations with Charles Mauti between April 4, 2020, and April 22, 2020)
• Count 3 – Guilty of Violation of the Sunshine Law/Public Meetings Law (The allegation involving telephone conversations with Charles Mauti on or between April 22, 2020, and April 24, 2020)
• Count 4 – Guilty of Perjury – Not in an Official Proceeding (The allegation that Gilliams falsely told a LEO that he only had one phone conversation with another council member on April 22, 2020)

Parris was found guilty on 3 out of 4 Counts:

• Count 1 – Guilty of Violation of the Sunshine Law/Public Meetings Law (The allegation involving the April 22 meeting at City Hall)
• Count 2 – Guilty of Perjury – Not in an Official Proceeding (The allegation that Parris falsely told a LEO that she had no phone conversations with any other council members on April 22, 2020) 
• Count 3 – Guilty of Perjury – Not in an Official Proceeding (The allegation that Parris falsely told a LEO that on April 22, 2020. she had several phone conversations with City Manager Paul Carlisle concerning whether the April 22, 2020, Sebastian City Council Meeting was postponed or canceled)
• Count 4 – Not Guilty of Perjury – Not in an Offical Proceeding (The allegation that Parris falsely told a LEO that she did not know the April 22, 2020, Sebastian City Council meeting was postponed or canceled)

Gilliams Bond

• Count 1 – $50,000
• Count 2 – $50,000
• Count 3 – $50,000
• Count 4 – $75,000

Total – $225,000

Parris Bond 

• Count 1 – $5,000
• Count 2 – $10,000
• Count 3 – $10,000

Total – $25,000

Sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2021, at 1:30 pm at the Indian County Court House with Judge Michael J. Linn.

You can watch the video of the verdict as it was announced in the courtroom.

If anyone wants to send the States Attorney a letter to be given to Judge Linn before sentencing, send it to Levans@SAO19.org.