Governor assigns campaign sign vandalism case to Third Judicial Circuit over conflict-of-interest concerns

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-196 on August 23, assigning Alan Geoffrey Geering’s case to John Durrett, State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida.

A sworn complaint was filed on August 3 by Alachua Police Department, charging Geering with criminal mischief after a witness provided information leading to the identification of Geering as the person who vandalized Circuit Court Judge Candidate Nathan Skop’s campaign signs in Alachua.

The executive order states that Brian Kramer, State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, advised the governor that since Skop was a candidate for Circuit Court Judge and one of Skop’s opponents, Sean Brewer, is an employee of the State Attorney’s office, the case should be assigned to another judicial circuit to avoid a conflict of interest or any appearance of impropriety.

Durrett notified the Alachua County Clerk of the Court on August 24 that he and his investigator Keith Heston will perform “all duties and responsibilities” related to Geering’s case. Geering has retained Nick Zissimopulos as his attorney and has submitted a plea of not guilty; no hearings are currently scheduled in the case.

Durrett is also handling the cases of Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr.’s sons Clovis Watson IV and Cortlan Watson due to potential conflicts of interest.