Weeks expected to be freed on bail pending her anticipated appeal
BUNNELL — Former Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kimberle Weeks was sentenced Friday to 18 months of probation, with the first 30 days to be spent in jail.
But Weeks is not expected to spend much time behind bars. Her attorneys were successful in convincing the judge to allow Weeks to remain free on $25,000 bail pending appeal of her seven felony convictions. She will be released as soon as she posts bond.
She was also ordered to pay $2,800 in costs of the investigation, far less than the $33,000 that Assistant State Attorney Jason Lewis had requested. The judge did not agree with Lewis that Weeks should be charged the hourly wages of employees involved in the investigation.
Weeks said little during the hearing. When Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson asked her if she wanted to make a statement, Weeks declined.
Based on state sentencing guidelines, Hudson could only sentence Weeks to prison after making a special written finding that Weeks would present a danger to the public otherwise, according to a motion filed Thursday by Weeks’ defense attorney Kevin Kulik.
The 57-year-old Weeks faced up to five years in prison on each of the charges, which are all third-degree felonies.
In seeking jail time for Weeks, prosecutor Jason Lewis argued that she ignored the law, derided people she recorded illegally, and should be held to a higher standard. He told the judge that some of her victims feel she should get jail time.
A jury deliberated just less than 2½ hours on April 5 to convict Weeks of the seven felonies: six counts of interception of wire communication and one of disclosure of wire communication.
Weeks has a number of issues she plans to raise on appeal, Kulik wrote in his motion seeking bail. He goes on to say that Weeks has significant ties to the community, does not present a flight risk and has appeared at all previous hearings.
Weeks was indicted in May 2015 and arrested, originally on 12 charges. But her attorneys fought successfully to knock some of those off.
During the trial, prosecutors painted Weeks as an egotistical elections chief who began making the illegal recordings of public officials after she felt disrespected and got some bad press. They said her intent was to protect her image.
Weeks’ attorneys countered that she had detected ethical violations involving local officials and possible voter suppression, and she was trying to bring it to the attention of state authorities.
Weeks trial included testimony from Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner. Weeks had asked Detzner for permission to record him during an April 2014 phone conversation. Detzner declined but Weeks recorded him anyway and later told some people she wasn’t sure what she had done was legal.
At the time, Weeks was feuding with Palm Coast officials over polling sites. Detzner urged Weeks to resolve the dispute with the city. Weeks shot back at Detzner telling him his letter was inappropriate and gave her a “black mark” in the media.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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