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Judge: State Attorney Can Prosecute Commissioner Valentino
July 10, 2010
State Attorney Bill Eddins will be able to prosecute Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino, according to a ruling issued Friday by Okaloosa County Judge Mike Ward.
Valentino had petitioned the judge to remove Eddins and his office from the case, with his attorney, Barry Beroset, arguing that since the State Attorney’s office used Valentino to make secret audio recordings in 2007, it would be a conflict of interest. Valentino assisted the State Attorney’s office in an investigation of former county administrator George Touart.
A criminal case against Valentino involving campaign related charges was moved in May to Okaloosa County by Escambia Chief Judge Terry Terrell. Valentino has entered a not guilty plea on charges of the solicitation of a political contribution in a building owned by a governmental agency. The charge is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine.
Valentino is accused of accepting a campaign donation at his county office from Pensacola developer Dan Gilmore on November 5, 2009.
Pictured: Commissioner Gene Valentino’s Escambia County Jail booking photo, click to enlarge.
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