Current Conditions
Former South Walton Mosquito District Commissioner Sentenced Save Email Print
Posted: 5:07 PM Jul 10, 2008
Last Updated: 9:13 PM Jul 10, 2008
Reporter: Alex Denis


A | A | A

A South Walton County Mosquito Control commissioner is sentenced after he was found guilty of voter fraud and falsifying documents.

Charlie Burke claimed to live at an address in Walton County, although prosecutors proved he lived in Panama City Beach with his wife. A DeFuniak Springs judge sentenced Burke today requiring him to give back much more than just his time.

When Charlie Burke was elected to serve as a commissioner for the South Walton Mosquito Control district, he claimed to live in Walton County, but when he filed paperwork to run for a county commissioner's seat, his place of residency was questioned.

Soon after the investigation started, Gov. Charlie Christ removed Burke from his post. The current director of Mosquito Control, Stephen Sickerman, never worked with Burke but says the whole ordeal interrupted the process of the office.

Stephen Sickerman said, "The only thing that I could tell really from my standpoint was that it was a distraction."

Judge Kelvin Wells decided Burke will have to pay for those distractions with two years probation, 100 hours of community service, and $2,600 in fines and investigation bills.

It doesn't stop there. The big one is that he will have to return the salary he earned as a Mosquito Control board member. Sickerman couldn't comment on Burke's sentencing, but he did say that the entire office can't wait to put this behind them and hopefully regain a new commissioner soon.

"I look forward to having a third commissioner back on board."

Before the commissioner's seat can be filled, Gov. Christ will have to formally notify the Department of Agriculture that the position is ready to be filled.

More Stories
Sansom Case Goes To Grand Jury

Bay County Death Row Inmate For 19 Years, Makes Another Appeal

Milton Historic District Fire

Some Panhandle Farmers Are Trying to Revive Satsuma Orange Industry

Laramore Charges Dropped

Local Bank Robber Is Former S.W. Georgia Mayor

New Revenue Sources

Carlie Brucia Murderer at Supreme Court

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
Email will not be displayed on site. For station contact purpose only.
AP Online Video