FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A former attorney for the Broward County Public Schools, implicated in the controversial leak of confidential grand jury details related to the 2018 Parkland school shooting, entered a no contest plea to a lesser charge Thursday. Barbara Myrick, the school district’s ex-general counsel, was originally charged with a felony for unlawfully disclosing information from the grand jury but faced a reduced misdemeanor charge of attempted unlawful disclosure of grand jury proceedings.
Following her no contest plea, Myrick received a sentence of one year of probation, which a judge declared could end after six months if no further issues arise. Additionally, she must cover $4,751 in legal fees related to the prosecution of her case.
Despite the plea, the legal proceedings may not yet be concluded. Myrick’s plea deal includes an option to appeal a prior court decision that rejected a dismissal of her case. David Bogenschutz, Myrick’s attorney, indicated plans to bring the case before the 4th District Court of Appeal.
The charges stem from a broader investigation by the grand jury which was convened to investigate school safety protocols following the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 individuals were killed. The scope of the investigation later widened to include scrutiny over a $17 million technology deal between the school district and vendors.
The grand jury’s expanded probe led to the indictment of Tony Hunter, a former district administrator, on bribery and bid-rigging charges. Additionally, Robert Runcie, the then-superintendent, faced accusations of perjury during his grand jury testimony concerning the technology deal. He later resigned from his position, and Myrick opted for retirement.
In a twist of events, legal proceedings against Runcie were initially dismissed due to jurisdictional issues, although this decision was later overturned by an appellate court. Similarly, the charges against Hunter were dismissed, but this decision is also currently being appealed by prosecutors.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges and legal ramifications stemming from the grand jury’s investigations into the school district’s operations post-Parkland shooting, reflecting broader concerns about governance and accountability in public school systems. It also underscores the complex legal landscapes often navigated in the aftermath of such tragic events, as communities seek justice and reforms to prevent future tragedies.
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