According to the Ron Ishoy,spokesman for the State Attorney’s Office, former Deerfield Beach Commissioner Steve Gonot was adjudicated guilty and sentenced Friday to 364 days in jail and five years probation for his conviction on three campaign finance-related corruption charges.
Broward County Circuit Judge Barbara McCarthy set a $15,000 bond while Gonot appeals the decision. Besides jail and probation, Gonot must also complete 500 hours community service.
Gonot was convicted May 10 of Official Misconduct and Grand Theft over $5,000, as well as a misdemeanor charge of Falsifying Records.
Gonot had been accused of unlawfully misusing $5,135 in campaign money for his personal use by writing a check from his campaign fund to a long-time friend for “supplies and equipment reimbursement” for his campaign. Investigators determined that no such equipment had been delivered by the time Gonot had falsely listed the transaction on his campaign treasurer’s report.
Assistant State Attorney David Schulson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Broward State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
