In recent legal developments related to the Parkland school shooting, Barbara Myrick, the former general counsel for Broward County Public Schools, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor for attempting to unlawfully disclose grand jury proceedings. She had originally faced felony charges for unlawfully revealing grand jury secrets, as reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
After her plea, Myrick was sentenced to one year of probation, which could be shortened to six months, and she was ordered to pay $4,751 in prosecution fees. However, her case may continue, as the plea agreement allows for an appeal of a previous ruling that denied a dismissal. Her lawyer, David Bogenschutz, stated that the appeal will be submitted to the 4th District Court of Appeal.
The probes originated from a grand jury formed to assess school safety following the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which claimed 17 lives. The investigation later expanded to include a $17 million technology deal, leading to formal charges of bribery and bid tampering against former district administrator Tony Hunter, as per CBS News.
The scandal also led to the arrest of then-Superintendent Robert Runcie in 2021 on perjury charges related to his testimony about the technology deal. Although the charges were initially dismissed, an appellate court has since overturned that decision. Similarly, charges against Tony Hunter were dismissed but are now being contested by prosecutors, according to U.S. News.
