Ex-Alachua county manager booked in battery case

Former Alachua County Manager Lee Niblock was being booked on a misdemeanor battery charge in Collier County early Thursday evening, sheriff's officials said.

Niblock had been under investigation by the sheriff's office, which released its investigative report Thursday.

Niblock, 64, is charged with a misdemeanor battery in Marco Island, where he was city manager for about three months following his termination from Alachua County in August 2017. Before he went to Alachua County, Niblock was Marion County's manager.

According to the investigation, Niblock is accused of attempting to kiss and touch a woman after offering her a $140,000-a-year job that he created.

Niblock was fired last month from his new job in Marco Island, for what the city council determined unethical behavior. He had a salary of $185,000.

According to the report released Thursday, Niblock met with Melissa Scott, principal of Marco Island Academy, and her supervisor, Jane Watt, to discuss possible repairs to a baseball facility.

Watt and Scott told law enforcement that Niblock, just one month on the job, made inappropriate comments and behaved oddly during the meeting. He commented on Scott's appearance, saying her looks were distracting, the report said.

The next day, investigators said, Niblock began texting Scott. He later offered to take her to dinner to discuss city and school business and insisted on picking her up, the report said. Investigators said Niblock attempted to recruit Scott for a newly created director of communications and government affairs position with a salary range of $92,000 to $118,000.During the dinner, however, Scott says Niblock upped the salary offer to about $140,000.

During the dinner, Scott said Niblock told her she was the “most attractive female in the restaurant.” She said Niblock also told her it was important his wife didn't find out about the dinner.