Former Sebastian City Council member Pam Parris ordered to serve reduced jail term
VERO BEACH – A judge Friday told former Sebastian City Council member Pam Parris she must serve 30 days in jail instead of the three-month term imposed in 2021 after being convicted at trial of perjury and violating Florida’s Sunshine law.
Parris, 63, who has been free on bond since a jury convicted her in May 2021, has until Jan. 12 to turn herself in to the Indian River County Jail, court records show.
A jury convicted Parris of two counts of perjury and one Sunshine Law violation. At trial she was acquitted of one count and on appeal, another perjury count was vacated.
The Florida Supreme Court in October denied her petition for a review.
Her codefendant, Damien H. Gilliams, 63, was released from jail Nov. 14, after he finished serving 20 days of a 45-day sentence related to a trio of misdemeanor Sunshine Law violations.
He was initially convicted of three counts of Sunshine Law violations and one count of perjury. The Fourth District Court of Appeal in June threw out his perjury conviction and a 90-day county jail term imposed after trial.
The Florida Supreme Court also rejected his appeal.
Gilliams was incarcerated during the city’s Nov. 7 election when he lost another bid to win a council seat after receiving 175 votes or 1.5% of the vote.
Sunshine Law violations
Gilliams and Parris were arrested and prosecuted related to their actions on April 22, 2020, when they and Vice Mayor Charles Mauti arrived at City Hall for a meeting City Manager Paul Carlisle canceled late in the day.
The three held their own meeting and made decisions, including firing the city manager and attorney and appointed Gilliams mayor.
All three were removed from office in September 2020 by a recall election.
Parris’ Miami attorney Philip Reizenstein said in court Friday he convinced Circuit Judge Michael Linn that it would be unfair if her original 90-day sentence wasn’t reduced because she’d serve more time than Gilliams.
“She had a much longer sentence and the judge (Linn) said he agreed,” Reizenstein said after court. “That's what he based his decision on.”
Parris also received credit for four days she’s already spent in jail.
Reizenstein said Parris in court “expressed an apology for making wrong decisions.”
“I don't think her conduct ever rose to criminal conduct. She was naïve, she was not equipped to be a politician … and she ended up finding herself before the court,” he said. “She expressed regret and sadness for it.”
Judge Linn meanwhile, refused to reduce the amount of court costs and restitution imposed in the case, according to Assistant State Attorney Lev Evans.
During a September 2021 sentencing hearing, Gilliams and Parris were ordered to pay $75,430 in restitution and $19,846 in court costs.
Gilliams on Friday failed to convince Linn in court to lower the fees and costs imposed despite an appeals court throwing out a perjury conviction and a 90-day jail term imposed after trial.
“The judge did not reduce his restitution, cost of investigation or cost of prosecution,” Evans said.
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Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the Treasure Coast.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Judge orders former Sebastian City Council member Pam Parris to jail
