The First District Court of Appeals declared Monday that it will not revisit its decision to overturn rheft and grand theft convictions of former Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris chief of staff and girlfriend Sabra Thornton.
State Attorney Bill Eddins told the Daliy News that his office will not pursue further legal action, which means Thornton will not spend any time in prison.
in February 2009 when then-Sheriff Charlie Morris was arrested in Las Vegas by the FBI on charges of theft, fraud and money laundering. Thornton was arrested a few days later along with other OCSO employees
Morris, who is serving six years in a federal prison, testified at Thornton’s trial that the two had a sexual relationship. According to him, she was scheduled to have been in Las Vegas with him on the day he was arrested.
Prosecutor Russ Edgar said Thornton used Morris to have him pay her bills, buy her presents and pay her $83,000 for a job that didn’t exist. A jury convicted her on Jan. 29, 2010, on all charges and she was given a two-year sentence.
Former Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Michael Coup, Finance Director Sandra Norris and David Yacks, an assistant supervisor of information technology, were convicted of racketeering and grand theft. Each were given four-year sentences and are out on bond pending appeals.
Teresa Adams, Morris’ administrative assistant. was charged with theft, fraud and money laundering by federal authorities and later with racketeering by the state.
She pleaded no contest to the state charges and is awaiting sentencing.
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