LIBERTY SHERIFF MAINTAINS INNOCENCE FINCH REFUSES DEAL; TRIAL SET FOR SEPT. 30

Posted by
Kelli Peacock Dunn
in News, Top Stories
Thursday, July 18. 2013
Comments (15)
Recently suspended Liberty County Sheriff Nick Finch has reportedly turned down an offer from the state to resign and avoid prosecution.

Finch was arraigned Wednesday at the Liberty County Courthouse, but only his attorney showed. He has pled not guilty. Jury selection is set for Sept. 30 with the trial to begin October 1. A preliminary hearing will be held Aug. 27.

Thursday, Finch was reportedly offered an opportunity to resign and the state would defer all charges. He declined, demanding a jury trial.

As of press time Tuesday, a change of venue had not been requested and the trial is set to be held in Liberty County.

As previously reported, Finch is accused of destroying documents following the arrest of a Liberty County man charged with having a concealed weapon without a permit. Finch says he believes in Second Amendment rights and felt the man never should have been charged.

Finch was arrested June 4 for official misconduct. An additional charge of falsifying public records has been added.
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#1 jenny on 07/19/13 at 06:05 AM [Reply]
It is not about 2 amendment it is about destorying documents. What if the officer had been shot would he feel same way?
#1.1 Margie R Woodham on 07/19/13 at 03:43 PM [Reply]
There was no one shot. Had there been it would have been handled much differently, I am sure. There seems to be a lot of difference to me when it comes to a piece of paper and a person being shot anyway.
#2 Kathy S. Johnson on 07/19/13 at 04:48 PM [Reply]
For what it's worth...law enforcement, 24/7, make judgment calls regarding the arrest of a person. Thankfully, common sense is used quite often. BUT, after an arrest is actually made and paperwork filed, that's not the time to go making up your own rules. And, it is against Florida Statutes to destroy public documents nilly willy. I don't care if something was written on a sheet of paper towel, if it's submitted regarding a case, it becomes a public document. There is a schedule on when documents can be destroyed. Please take the time to peruse Florida Statutes, Chapter 119.
#3 Jace S on 07/21/13 at 06:23 PM [Reply]
So you're going to put your fate in the hands of people where you won by a slim margin? A place where many of the residents there paid the fee and submitted the necessary paperwork to get a conealed weapons permit in order to follow the LAW. Rule of Law should apply to everyone one. Risk of being a convicted felon, risk of losing civil rights and the risk of not being able to possess a firearm. That's a lot to risk on such a slim margin.
#4 jenny on 07/22/13 at 09:07 AM [Reply]
As I said what if you never know maybe he should have been the one in the place of the deputy and not the deputy. Read before you speak i said what IF!
#5 Jay on 07/22/13 at 09:49 PM [Reply]
I gave this guy the benefit of doubt to begin with , but obviously he doesn't have enough sense to understand that he BROKE THE LAW, regardless of what he believes in as far as personal opinion. I also find it ridiculous that the state offered him a plea bargain agreeing to not prosecute if he would resign. To me that's no different than working at McDonalds, committing a serious crime,and told by the state that they would not prosecute if you'd stop flipping burgers in the fast food business. I hope the people of Liberty County get justice by convicting this guy in trial. Furthermore if he chooses to go to trial and loses, he should be treated just like anyone else that goes in a trial knowing they are guilty. The judge should absolutely HAMMER him to the max. I don't know about you all but I'm sick and tired of people in law enforcement thinking they make the rules. Liberty County, make an example out of this jerk is what I'm in favor of, and maybe your new Sheriff can find some decent deputies to serve and protect you all, instead of the arrogant,crooked bunch of little creeps Finch hired.
#5.1 Gerri on 07/23/13 at 08:25 AM [Reply]
How correct you are. I'm surprised that know one has looked into Nick Finch's past when he was Deputy Sheriff in Warren County, Indianola, Iowa. Hopefully, someone will check it out.
#6 Kenneth Edwards on 07/22/13 at 10:45 PM [Reply]
Jay you should spend a little time learning "the rules" before accusing others of making or breaking them. Just a bit of wisdom. :)
#7 Tom Riddle on 07/23/13 at 08:54 AM [Reply]
I know that I'm not alone in saying that I feel betrayed by Mr. Finch. The 2nd amendment issue was an afterthought that a clever snake-oil salesman posing as a freedom advocate came up with. If that was his intention then all he had to do was release the prisoner. Altering official documents and removing records from the premisis was an illegal act. Period. More that that, he did not support his deputy in the face of an obvious justified arrest.
#8 KrisAnne Hall on 07/24/13 at 06:41 AM [Reply]
It is amazing to me how often people will rely upon pure speculation instead of FACT and LAW. Sheriff Finch broke NO law. I am an attorney, an attorney with nearly 10 years experience in criminal law, both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. There was no official arrest because no one was booked. Since there was no official arrest and no booking there were no official documents to destroy or alter. Every Sheriff in this State has discretion to move forward on an arrest or not. It happens everyday. You WANT your Sheriff to have that discretion, by the way. However, since the arrest affidavit for the arrest of Sheriff Finch spends more time talking about the Sheriff's second amendment stand than it does establishing the elements of the crime he is charged with, one can only logically conclude this arrest was about the Sheriff's second amendment beliefs than the charges brought against him. From a purely legal perspective, the arrest affidavit for Sheriff Finch fails to provide probable cause for an essential element of the crime he is charged with..."corrupt intent". So can we please stick to the facts and the law and move away from media pathos and political manipulation, perhaps then we will get back to real journalism and the call to bring the truth to light.
#8.1 Joy E. on 07/25/13 at 10:32 AM [Reply]
I read the Liberty and Calhoun newspapers online to keep up with the the small town drama that I moved away from 25+ years ago.

I don't personally know the Liberty County Sheriff and have no political aspirations for anyone in either of these small counties in Florida.

I remember clearly how small town politics can get very heated in both counties.

I do know that your post was well written and speaks truth in a hotly debated local topic.

What saddens me is that two high ranking officials in a community are having legal trouble. How may others are sitting on pins and needles waiting for their bombs to drop.

Let the truth come to light in both situations and let others learn from the mistakes made... and use that knowledge positively making for a better community.
#9 Jay on 07/24/13 at 08:06 PM [Reply]
Kenneth, I appreciate the thought of you honestly thinking those were words of wisdom, but... The truth of the matter is that obviously common sense isn't very common these days, and whether you realize it or not you are actually voicing the same opinion as myself, and I'll explain as you read more. Miss KrisAnne Hall I don't know where it is that you practice law, and quite frankly it doesn't matter being that it's obviously not in Florida. There is one thing you are correct on. The arrest affidavit of Finch does give a detailed account on how he very disrespectfully broke the law more than just one time during this ordeal. For the life of me I can't understand what you're missing. It states plain as day that Sgt. Smith begin to document the arrest and process Parrish into the jail. It goes on to say what items had to be present to COMPLETE her file and have it ready to go to the clerks office. The file was put in the filing cabinet in the control room exactly where it was supposed to go upon COMPLETION. She booked Mr Parrish into the jail, hellllooo... An arrest affidavit is an official document that cannot be removed or destroyed, Finch did so, helllloooo... Tom commented right saying that this whole second amendment deal was a clever after thought to try and cover up his dirt, because he knew Hoaglang didn't agree and was going to take it further. so to answer your question Miss KrisAnne yes Finch acted with corrupt intent to obtain benefit for another person being that it would be safe to say that these people supported Finch getting in office. Do you honestly think Finch would have done the same for any citizen? No it was a kind of I scratch your back you scratch mine, and heck yes that's CORRUPT. Now, yes we have a right to bear arms and I strongly agree with Finch on that. On the other hand there are RULES Kenneth to keep that right. If you are going to carry a loaded concealed pistol on your person you are required by law to have a permit. If you choose to carry that concealed firearm without a permit, you GO TO JAIL. There are reasons behind this law. Here is one reason I myself am thankful for this law. I have loved ones that work night shift in public places which can be a scary thing for them walking to their vehicle, taking breaks, ect. in the middle of the night. They have a right as well to feel safe. How safe would you feel if any and every Joe Blow was allowed to go anywhere they wanted with a loaded concealed pistol in their pocket. Concealing a weapon puts the fear of the unknown in people and agree or not, your rights end when you can't abide by the proper procedures to practice them. Last but not least no law enforcement officer should have the choice of not enforcing the law regardless of who's involved. Now Kenneth maybe you're a little wiser on rules. They aren't for just me and you, they're for everybody, including the sheriff, and sorry sir but yes he was making it up as he went
#10 Jace S on 07/27/13 at 10:53 PM [Reply]
Where are the other 66 county sheriff's in the state of Florida? Why aren't they standing with Finch? Oh no wait... they enforce the laws as they are written instead of putting their feelings in the mix.
#10.1 Margie Woodham on 07/31/13 at 08:20 AM [Reply]
FACTS:
HERE ARE THE CLEAR IRREFUTABLE FACTS: The U.S. Supreme Court has made it very clear that

1) Treaties do not override the U.S. Constitution.
2) Treaties cannot amend the Constitution. And last,

3) A treaty can be nullified by a statute passed by the U.S.
From: State Rights
Treaties Do Not Supersede
the Constitution /End of subject!!!

If we continue to bury our heads in the sand like ostriches, then when we have allowed our constitution to be trampled on, we can only watch as we, our children and our grandchildren lose ALL our forefathers fought and died to obtain. SHAME on us for being too lazy to even read and research our history and LEARN our rights in a nation established, under GOD, with liberty and justice for ALL.
#11 Luke on 07/31/13 at 06:35 PM [Reply]
Why are they spending hundred of thousands of taxpayer dollars taking Finch to court over a $300 ticket for not have a 3 step motion for a handgun. The law for a handgun in a car without a permit varies from cop to cop. This is just a ridiculous coo.
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