In today's paper:
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS ? The trial of developer David Barron ended on Wednesday not long after a jury was seated when he pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges for illegally clearing land without permits and damaging state wetlands at La-Grange Bayou.
Barron was to be tried on felony charges, but Assistant State Attorney Neill Wade decided that he did not have the evidence he needed to make them stick.
?There was difficulty in differentiating (between) damage to wetlands and damage to state lands,? Wade said.
A seven-member jury was picked about noon. After a lunch break, Wade met with Barron?s attorneys and they agreed on the plea agreement. The jury never heard testimony or saw any evidence.
Barron was adjudicated guilty on misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and violations of the Florida Pollution Control Act and Florida Water Control Act for damaging state wetlands and clearing without a permit.
He was sentenced to 12 months probation and 150 hours of community service. He was also fined $5,000 and must reimburse the state and Walton County Sheriff?s Office a total of $3,777.63 for the cost of the investigation.
Barron did not comment on the advice of his attorneys, Ashley Smith Herndon and Don Dewrell.
?We?re happy the case (was) resolved with misdemeanor (charges),? Herndon said. ?We think that was appropriate.?
Barron is a corporate officer with Destin-based JLAB, LLC.
As co-defendant in the Barron case, the corporation has been fined $10,000 for the illegal clearing.
The clearing occurred earlier this year on about 27 acres at the Ramsey Branch of LaGrange Bayou near Freeport. About one acre of wetlands was damaged, Herndon said.
Barron is the son of Okaloosa County Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron.
The state and Walton County are requiring David Barron to draw up a site restoration plan and return the cleared property and wetlands as close as possible to their original state.
The county has issued about $240,000 in civil citations to Barron for clearing the land without permits.
Wade said that it impressed him how aggressively the state and county pursued the case.
?My compliments to the DEP and Walton County for vigorously pursuing this like they did,? he said.
Daily News Staff Writer Heather Civil can be reached at 267-8300.
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS ? The trial of developer David Barron ended on Wednesday not long after a jury was seated when he pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges for illegally clearing land without permits and damaging state wetlands at La-Grange Bayou.
Barron was to be tried on felony charges, but Assistant State Attorney Neill Wade decided that he did not have the evidence he needed to make them stick.
?There was difficulty in differentiating (between) damage to wetlands and damage to state lands,? Wade said.
A seven-member jury was picked about noon. After a lunch break, Wade met with Barron?s attorneys and they agreed on the plea agreement. The jury never heard testimony or saw any evidence.
Barron was adjudicated guilty on misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and violations of the Florida Pollution Control Act and Florida Water Control Act for damaging state wetlands and clearing without a permit.
He was sentenced to 12 months probation and 150 hours of community service. He was also fined $5,000 and must reimburse the state and Walton County Sheriff?s Office a total of $3,777.63 for the cost of the investigation.
Barron did not comment on the advice of his attorneys, Ashley Smith Herndon and Don Dewrell.
?We?re happy the case (was) resolved with misdemeanor (charges),? Herndon said. ?We think that was appropriate.?
Barron is a corporate officer with Destin-based JLAB, LLC.
As co-defendant in the Barron case, the corporation has been fined $10,000 for the illegal clearing.
The clearing occurred earlier this year on about 27 acres at the Ramsey Branch of LaGrange Bayou near Freeport. About one acre of wetlands was damaged, Herndon said.
Barron is the son of Okaloosa County Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron.
The state and Walton County are requiring David Barron to draw up a site restoration plan and return the cleared property and wetlands as close as possible to their original state.
The county has issued about $240,000 in civil citations to Barron for clearing the land without permits.
Wade said that it impressed him how aggressively the state and county pursued the case.
?My compliments to the DEP and Walton County for vigorously pursuing this like they did,? he said.
Daily News Staff Writer Heather Civil can be reached at 267-8300.
This article makes it seem like the fines and punishment are severe. I mean, I couldn't afford $240,000 in fines, but that is nothing if it converts interior lots to waterfront lots. Also, originally, those fines were supposed to continue until the corrective action of filling in those man-made canals took place. Sounds like that is no longer the case. 
David Barron: Jerk of the Year....Ugh...
