Florida Attorney General - Volume 7, Issue 31

Publication of the Office of the Attorney General • Volume 7, Issue 31 • August 7, 2009

Florida's Stand on Public Records

Florida enjoys its reputation as a state with some of the best public records laws in the nation, a reputation we should all strive to protect. In our state, public entities and their business are subject to public scrutiny. These laws encourage accountability, and should be an example to the rest of the country.

This week, I filed a brief in a lawsuit over public records at Florida State University, held from the public by the NCAA. I believe it is important that we recognize even third parties can be held responsible for adhering to these laws if they are doing business with a public university.

Access to public records is not a privilege – it is a constitutional right. I am proud of every effort we make to protect that right.

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A Hillsborough County man has been arrested on charges of possession of child pornography. Joseph William Bullard was taken into custody by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit, Plant City Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

An illegal immigrant residing in Lake County was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 20 years probation for his role in a cocaine and cannabis trafficking operation that was responsible for distributing cocaine and cannabis throughout Central Florida. Gabriel Soto Garcia pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, 400 grams or more and trafficking in cocaine, 400 grams or more in May 2008 and was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. Upon his release from prison, Gabriel Soto Garcia will be turned over to officials with the United States Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.

Lake County Cocaine Trafficker Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence

Attorney General Issues Statement on State Farm Policy Discounts

Attorney General's Office Donates Computers to At-Risk Youth

Hillsborough County Man Arrest for Child Pornography

Attorney General McCollum issued the following statement on the State Farm policy discounts for home mitigation efforts:
“I appreciate Commissioner McCarty protecting mitigation discounts for State Farm policyholders. Floridians should always be encouraged to fortify their homes against disasters and better protect their families, and I believe these mitigation efforts should still be given special consideration in homeowner insurance rates.”

Attorney General McCollum donated 25 computers to the Go Beyond Foundation to be used in promoting technology education and enhancement opportunities to at-risk minority students. The computers will be used as incentive tools for young men involved in the Leon County School District’s Booker T. Washington Success Academy.