Friday, April 17, 2009

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (AP) - A grand jury has indicted Florida’s former House speaker on a third-degree felony charge of official misconduct.

Ray Sansom resigned amid scandal, and a grand jury charged him Friday with misusing his position to benefit the Panhandle college that hired him for a six-figure job. Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg was also indicted.

Richburg hired Sansom to a $110,000-a-year job at the school on the same day he became speaker in November. Sansom was hired as the school’s top fundraiser at a salary of $25,000 more than his predecessor.

Sansom surrendered to authorities Friday afternoon and was released. He says in a statement that he’s innocent and will be vindicated.

Richburg attorney Deeno Kitchen says someone’s got the facts wrong.

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