By Mary Hladky
Former Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie’s trial on public corruption charges has been postponed until Sept. 21 due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.
Prosecutor Brian Fernandes and Bruce Zimet, Haynie’s criminal defense lawyer, agreed to cancel a scheduled July 20 trial and to set the new trial date because the pandemic has made it difficult to complete pretrial discovery. They also were concerned that not enough potential jurors would be available in July. Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Gillen agreed to the new trial date on May 28.
A March trial date also was postponed.
Haynie was arrested on April 24, 2018, on charges of official misconduct, perjury, misuse of public office and failure to disclose voting conflicts. She faces more than 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors contend that Haynie, 64, used her position on the City Council to vote on six matters that financially benefited James Batmasian, the city’s largest downtown commercial landowner, and failed to disclose income she had received from him.
Haynie has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Zimet has repeatedly said she will not accept a plea deal.
Then-Gov. Rick Scott suspended Haynie from office, but she never resigned. Her option to reclaim the mayor's post ended March 31 after Boca Raton voters elected Scott Singer, who was elevated from deputy mayor to replace Haynie during her suspension, to a full term as mayor succeeding her.
Comments
What a complete waste of taxpayers money. This lady has done nothing but the very best for Boca Raton and she and her husband had a small business that she wasn’t even involved with and which existed way before she was mayor. That company did business with Batmasian because the guys company owns most of the real estate in Boca. It’s a sad day to see this pathetic case even going to court but I have faith in our legal system.
Go ahead Susan, delay the inevitable. Don’t take a plea deal and keep hiding behind the coronavirus. There’s a jail cell waiting for you. Go now or go later - makes no never mind. You abused the public trust. You got caught. Bon voyage.