Confidential hearing for sheriff ’s ethics case

A judge held a confidential hearing Tuesday afternoon to address Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony’s ethics complaint by a state agency.

The Florida Commission on Ethics previously found probable cause to pursue a case into Tony, finding that there were lies and omissions on forms that led him to his first cop job in Coral Springs, and ultimately rise to sheriff.

Tony was given two options once the Commission on Ethics found probable cause: He could go to a full evidentiary hearing before a judge with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, which hears ethics cases.

Or he could immediately enter into a stipulated agreement. Either way, the findings go back to the state Commission on Ethics for its approval.

In April, the ethics commission referred the case for the hearing, which was scheduled for July.

That might not happen now if there is a settlement agreement. A mediation meeting between Tony’s lawyers and the ethics commission took place Tuesday afternoon with Hetal Desai, a Tallahassee-based judge, on Zoom. It was not known if Tony was in attendance.

At the start of Tuesday’s Zoom meeting, Desai noticed news reporters had joined the meeting, told them it was “a confidential hearing” and asked them to log off the meeting.

As a result, the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting wasn’t immediately available. Neither of Tony’s lawyers, Louis J. Baptiste and Stephen Webster, could be reached for comment late Tuesday. In September, Baptiste said Tony “looks forward to a swift finding of innocence.”

If the two sides were to not have reached an agreement Tuesday, it would go to the hearing in July.

But if they were to have reached an agreement, then the case would go back to the ethics commission for approval. If the commission wouldn’t accept what the two sides would agree to on Tuesday, the case could potentially go back to the judge for a hearing, and the judge will make a recommended order and possible penalty.

In a news article in 2021, the South Florida Sun Sentinel detailed the sheriff’s lies and omissions on official forms. According to ethics commission’s documents, he provided false information, or did not disclose information in multiple cases, including withholding information from the governor during his selection process, and not disclosing his traffic citation history, drug use history, and arrest history to be hired at Coral Springs Police Department.

The case became a matter for the Florida Commission on Ethics after a referral from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The state panel found Tony “misused his public position” when he provided false information or did not disclose information, determining that the “extraordinary relevant set of facts” that he omitted directly benefited him in getting jobs. One member called his behavior “despicable.”