FCSO Implements New Policy Asking Defendants To Cover Cost Of Criminal Cases

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Flagler County, FL - The Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) has implemented a new policy that will ask defendants to foot the bill for the cost of criminal investigations. FCSO announced the new policy on Tuesday and says that it will work with the State Attorney's Office in order to add charges for the reimbursement of criminal investigations to the sentencing judgment of the defendant. That reimbursement will be requested from all defendants in all  Flagler County criminal cases ranging from shoplifting to murder. Any fees recovered would be returned to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners' general fund. Brittany Kershaw, Public Information Officer for FCSO says that the arresting officer would submit an affidavit to the court showing the costs to be entered into the judgment against the defendant. "There is a chance that (defendants) will not be able to pay, even if the court does mandate it; however, it will be added to their conviction if the judge deems that it's appropriate, so it's better that we try our best to get those charges reimbursed by the defendant rather than the taxpayers," Kershaw explains. “Florida law allows charging these fees to the criminal upon conviction, and that is what we will do,” says Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for criminal acts. If you’re going to do the crime, be prepared to pay for it.” One of the first cases where this new policy will be implemented is the case of Michael Scott Wilson, who is charged with rigging a door in an attempt to electrocute his estranged wife in Palm Coast. He was located and arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can find more on that story here. FCSO says that numerous Sheriff's Office resources were used during the investigation, including a detective that had to travel to Knoxville twice. FCSO is seeking a total of $5,748.85 in reimbursement from Wilson, including $4,978.85 in investigative costs and $770.00 for Wilson's extradition to Flagler County. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2018.