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Sheriff Candidate Powell Says He’s Not Guilty, Campaign Will Continue
July 31, 2012
ARCHIVED STORY — July 31, 2012
Escambia County Sheriff’s candidate John Powell said Monday night that he is not guilty of the campaign finance indictment leveled against him Monday by a grand jury. Powell, who is charged with accepting cash campaign contributions in excess of the $50 allowable limit, said he will continue his campaign.
Related Story:
Escambia Sheriff Candidate John Powell
Arrested On Campaign Violation Charge
“I am not guilty of these accusations,” Powell said in a prepared statement.
Powell went on to make claims about why the accusations against him were brought by incumbent Sheriff David Morgan.
“My opponent, to take the focus off the issues, has chosen to make a criminal complaint with the State Attorney’s Office to cause embarrassment to me and my supporters even though he
admittedly accepted more than $50 in cash contributions from a number of people. I chose not to tile a criminal complaint regarding his campaign because these actions are better addressed in the civil arena not in the criminal courts,” he said.
To read Powell’s complete statement released after his arrest Monday night, click here.
Comments
29 Responses to “Sheriff Candidate Powell Says He’s Not Guilty, Campaign Will Continue”
Nothing changes– if Powell is elected it will only be a short time before all of the comments will start about he and the S.O. being a bunch of “do nothings”. Can some one share with us what Morgan should or could have done with the information?
Everyone who gets arrested says they are not guilty. Typical criminal. Or in this case, they are both criminals. With badges.
I will now vote for Powell.
Informed voter, you fail to tell everyone that David Morgan had to go to the same type of hearing in Tallahassee. Now why would you leave that out of your post? it’s kind of like reporting your opponents mistakes when you made the same……Powell has my vote!
Again for those that ask questions about why we would want a criminal as sheriff I say to you..Mr.Powell has not been convicted of anything yet, if he ever is. An incompetent sheriff who makes ridiculous remarks like “a real humdinger” about a horrendous murder or a man who has been accused of a crime because he was getting to close to Morgan. Morgan is a man who was introduced to my child as the “big dog” in Escambia county and instead of taking the time to talk to perhaps a future LEO he snubbed him to see if a hat he had ordered had come in. Great community relations Sheriff Morgan. Thats the man you want as Sheriff for another 4 yrs? Appears two faced and I voted for him 4 years ago. Not this time around
SOUNDS LIKE MORE MUD SLINGING MR POWELL YOU GOT MY VOTE
With all this nonsense, finger pointing and dishonesty…I wouldn’t vote for either one of these clowns. Elections, on any level, are a joke these days. No matter who you vote in – they are there for themselves and not the public anymore. It sickens me. I am a registered voter but after watching what is going on in the White House and elsewhere, I give up. And before anyone starts bashing me with “If you don’t vote, you shouldn’t have an opinion” …..well here is my response to that “When there is someone running that is worthy of my vote-then I WILL vote”. In the past 3 years, plus ……. our country has been turned into a joke. If I could afford to, I would pack up my entire family and move to another country. I am ashamed to live in this country anymore, and I’m not alone.
People who have never voted in their lives – voted for Obama just because of the color of his skin. So, this is how we want to choose our President? And other elected officials? Like I said “I am ashamed”. This is absurd!!! I give up!
Powell has this indictment from the Grand Jury, but that is not all. Powell also has too be in Tallahasse on August the 14th at 1:30 pm to answer to the Ethics Commission on ethic charges that they found probale cause on. Powell claimed that it was dismissed but he lied again. Ethics charges and an indictment sure are great qualities for a candidate for sheriff, NOT!!!!!! If you support Powell that is your choice, but the old proverb is birds of a feather flock together.
So the defense is, “There was no criminal intent, I’m just incompetent with money.”
Let’s let him have a whack at running the sheriffs department multimillion dollar budget.
Ms Braswell I will support Mr Powell because he is not guilty in my eyes no more than mr morgan who had the same election rules violations. He has not had his day in court and dont get me started on morgans issues that he has neglected to bring forth. You seem to have Mr Powell guilty before he is adjudicated guilty. If he is guilty why not morgan as well since he had the same election violations. Both made book keeping errors which are common during campaigns. Why not focus on the issues : high crime rate , shootings , drugs , thefts and not to mention the fear of the Deputies working under a dictatorship and afraid to do their jobs. You choose ; I have and so has many of this counties educated Citizens ; morgan has to go.
John….hang in there,,,,….you now have (2-Pluses +) on your side) one….. scardy cat politics. Two………….. few campaning………… I’m no kin but………. i’ll pull for you altho I live across the line…Flomaton Alabama. There are a lot of voters that will follow you.
Mickey Powell
Flomaton Alabama
Well, I see no one could respond to my question as to who would support a law breaker for a sheriff over a law enforcer.
The silence speaks volumes….
Picking up neighborhood trash is not the job of The Office of the Sheriff! Sir Morgan has to go.
Mr eddins spent more tax payers money on a misdemeanor charge than he would on a murder charge. He pulled all the departments resources neglecting other cases more serious hmmmmm. morgan reported these violations twice with the elections commission but no violations found. He then runs to his elite buddy eddins to file criminal charges (election rules violation) . Mr eddins should remember the law requires “intent” to be a viable charge. No intent by Mr Powell since he reported all his donations and did not try to hide anything. Political hatchet job from the looks of it. Mr morgan made the same fund reporting errors but AMAZING no charges. The great Citizens see thru this and will vote for some one concerned with the safety of this county and not photo ops.
I don’t care how Sheriff Morgan dresses. I voted for him because the last 2 sheriffs had been a joke, talk about gob garbage. Now Powell has the backing of the last “sheriff”, you know the one that used the helicopter for pizza runs among other questionable practices. Hmmm. Voting for Morgan again. FYI, the reason they “clean up” neighborhoods is because code enforcement is afraid to go into these crime ridden areas
northend voter:
Powell has filed numerous complaints against Morgan, so what’s the difference ?
And ‘the spirit of the law’ is spelled out in the Statute that calls for a grand jury to investigate the complaint, not the Elections Commission, which, BTW, will also be trying Powell on August 14.
1. Why are you trying to re-write the Statute to get Powell off the hook ?
2. Why haven’t you answered my basic question — why would you, or anyone, want for Sheriff a man who breaks the law as opposed to a man who enforces the law ?
Just askin///
Linda, it was on the news that Bill Eddins sent Morgans paperwork. Not John Powell. There is an Elections Commission to make those complaints to. Morgan has tied up our tax dollars(Grand Jury, Prosecutors, State Attorney Investigators) just to get a feather in his cap. The spirit of that law was to keep candidates from hiding money they were receiving, ie…getting 75.00 posting 50.00 and hiding the other 25.00. John Powell posted all of his. There was no intent there on Powells Campaign. Morgan has proven over the last 3 and a half years, it is all about his ego, and him. He is a power hungry, vindictive person. Buying a Knighthood for a $1,000 and wearing it on his uniform should send a red flag up to any reasonable person. Sir David has to go!!!!
Seems petty. The fact that Mr. Powell reported those contributions on his finance report shows he had no intent to commit a criminal act but rather it was merely a mistake of which we all make.
North end voter….how do YOU know that the State Attorney ‘did that on his own’.
And don’t you believe that a Sheriff should report violations of the law ? I don’t understand your logic…why was it wrong for Sheriff Morgan to report a violation of the law ? Is ther some exemption to the law that Powell is entitled to ?
Linda, The State Attorney did that on his own. 429SCJ I agree, it looks like alot of people now see our egotistical Sheriff for what he really is. A 5 year old. Morgan has got to go.
Still seems petty to me. I think the fact that Mr. Powell filed this on his campaign finance report shows there was no intent. A simply mistake and as humans we all make them.
Powell was charged by a grand jury of his peers of campaign law violations. Some of you feel that selective enforcement of the laws are OK, I do not. Campaign laws are there to insure that elections are carried out on a level playing field. Cheating puts an undo advantage to the cheater. If Powell cant keep track of less than 50 thousand dollars in campaign money how can we ecpect him to be the administrator of a multi million dollar budget? Morgan was found by the State Attorneys office to have not violated campaign laws. He will get my vote again.
He never filed a complaint against Morgan, check for yourself Linda. Typical dirty politics on Morgans part.
You have my vote Mr. Powell, stand your ground and be confident that the vast majority of residents in this county are sick of Morgan and his dirty politics.
Just do us all a favor, get the department focused on more serious crimes, and give them a raise! These men and women have families and risk life/limb to serve us. So serve them and give them what they deserve, it will trickle down to a better police force and in turn will make your time in office a successful one.
I thought Morgan had more character that this. If you cannot beat him on the issues lets sift through the pile and see what is there. Yes I agree it was bad judgement for Powell and yes he should do better, but I am tired of all of this. Morgan just stick to the issues and debate them. Powell just stick to the issues and debate them.
You lost my vote on this petty stuff Morgan, now it is up to you Powell.
The sheriff has turned this election into a laughing matter. Morgan is playing mickey mouse games. Powell was getting to close so the good ole boy network kicked in. What we really need is a SA instead of a good ole boy, hand picked for the job!
You now have my vote. Dont get impeached the week after taking office.
But in fact he did file a counter-complaint against Morgan that was found to be baseless by that same grand jury. The truth is just not in him.
One never knows what dwells behind a face, until the truth is exposed.