Republican official gets cease, desist order from sheriff’s attorney
ST. LUCIE COUNTY − An attorney representing recently-appointed St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson wants the chairman of the St. Lucie County Republican Executive Committee to “cease and desist” making “derogatory or defamatory” statements regarding Pearson.
Kenny Nail, chairman of the St. Lucie County Republican Executive Committee, on Monday provided the Dec. 8-dated letter from attorney Patrick W. Lawlor.
The sheriff’s office has been in the public spotlight as of late after longtime Sheriff Ken Mascara abruptly retired Dec. 1, and Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Pearson, at the time a lieutenant, to be sheriff.
Pearson, who joined the agency about two decades ago, has said he was called about 30 minutes before a news release was issued about the appointment. He said he hadn’t thought about running for the office before the appointment.
Lawlor states Nail published a document describing Pearson as a “corrupt sheriff.”
“You indicated that Sheriff Pearson was ‘tainted by corruption.’” the letter states. “You claim to the community that Sheriff Pearson acts with ‘dishonesty and malfeasance.’ Further, you claim that Sheriff Pearson is a criminal.”
Lawlor said Nail “recklessly and with total disregard for the truth” published statements knowing they were false.
Some, including Nail and St. Lucie County Commission Chairperson Cathy Townsend, did not approve of Pearson’s appointment.
At a Dec. 6 news conference, Nail said Pearson was “unethical” and “should not even be our dog catcher,” while earlier Townsend said Pearson was “the worst choice the governor could have made.”
Lawlor wrote Nail’s actions caused irreparable harm to Pearson’s reputation.
The letter said a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation was the foundation of Nail’s speech.
Pearson was among many the FDLE interviewed in a probe related to allegations Mascara and others broke the law in promoting a straw candidate in the 2020 primary and general elections for sheriff. Prosecutors found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
The office of Phil Archer, state attorney for Brevard and Seminole counties, was assigned to investigate following confidential executive orders from DeSantis, records show.
Mascara defeated Republican challenger Kevin Carter, a retired sheriff’s deputy, in the 2020 election.
The criminal investigation appeared to center around Mascara and Carter, who defeated Richard Williams, a former Florida Highway Patrol trooper, in the Republican primary.
According to an executive summary of the investigation from the FDLE’s public corruption unit, Pearson “knowingly conspired, confederated, abetted and aided Ken Mascara … to facilitate Kevin Carter’s ‘ghost’ candidacy…”
The summary states Pearson helped “to create Carter’s campaign propaganda signs, which he assisted in placing through St. Lucie County.”
Pearson on Dec. 4 said he didn’t think he did anything wrong.
Attempts to reach Pearson since Dec. 4 have not been successful.
Lawlor’s letter stated Pearson was not found to be corrupt, dishonest or to act with malfeasance.
“Finally, Sheriff Pearson was not found to be involved in any criminal activity,” Lawlor’s letter states.
Lawlor requested the following actions be completed by noon Wednesday:
- Nail apologize on social media and via the press that the statements ”concerning Sheriff Pearson were false and not based upon the truth and the facts.”
- The Republican Party of St. Lucie County “make a public apology that the statements made by Kenny Nail about Sheriff Pearson were false and not based upon the truth and the facts.”
- The Republican Party of St. Lucie County take back any endorsement of a candidate for St. Lucie County Sheriff.
The party in 2022 endorsed Richard Del Toro, who is the Port St. Lucie Police Department’s acting chief, in the race. A number of other Democrats and Republicans are in the running.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
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