Charlie Morris

In February Charlie Morris, Okaloosa County Sheriff and President of the Florida Sheriffs Association, was arrested on a Las Vegas gambling trip with $5,000 in his pocket and $30,000 in a hotel safe He was subsequently suspended from office by Governor Charlie Crist. He was indicted on April 23 along with his Director of Administration and Finance, Theresa Adams.
Prosecutors say the pair deposited bonuses in employees accounts and asked the employees to return a portion of the money to them in cash. They used some of it to finance several first-class Las Vegas gambling trips for themselves and an inner circle of sheriff’s office associates.
Morris and Adams were arrested in Las Vegas in February.
Collier said Tuesday that Morris’ plea agreement included a provision for him cooperate with federal prosecutors and State Attorney Bill Eddins’ office in their ongoing investigations of others in the department.
Among other things, an investigative audit of the department’s finances found Morris bought himself 41 new cars during his 12 years in office. Morris frequently traded vehicles and spent more than $170,000 in public money buying GMC Envoys, Chevrolet Impalas and other cars.
On May 19, Morris plead guilty to the charges and faces a maximum federal prison term of 85 years and up to $1.75 million in fines. He will appear for his sentencing hearing on July 28.