FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Former Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, whose tenure included the Parkland school shooting, is no longer facing a criminal perjury case.
Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein announced Tuesday that he decided to dismiss the case against Runcie, according to Attorney Mike Dutko, who represents Runcie.
“We are evaluating the ruling and will likely appeal,” Nicholas B. Cox, Florida’s statewide prosecutor, said in a statement released by the Florida Office of the Attorney General.
Dutko argued the grand jury lacked authority to indict Runcie, and Fein agreed, according to the judge’s 28-page order after the defense’s second motion to dismiss.
“In Florida, a statewide brandy just can only consider crimes that occur in two or more counties,” said Attorney David Weinstein, a partner at Jones Walker and former prosecutor who is not related to the case, adding that “Runcie testified in front of this grand jury in only one county,” but the grand jury may “refer the matter to a local state attorney to investigate.”
About two years ago, Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers arrested Runcie on accusations that he had lied to a state grand jury while testifying under oath between March 31 and April 1.
The state grand jury was investigating the 2018 Valentine’s Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when Runcie faced accusations that he had lied about March 29 conversations with the witnesses of a public corruption case.
The case involved Anthony “Tony” Hunter, the BCPS former chief information officer, who was arrested on Jan. 12, 2021, and accused of “rigging the process of awarding piggyback purchase contracts” to steer business to a generous friend.
“I am confident that I will be vindicated,” Runcie said during a speech after his arrest after serving BCPS for nearly a decade.
Despite having two more years in his contract, Runcie stepped down before his arraignment with a $754,900 mutual separation agreement. His last day on the job was Aug. 10, 2021.
On Tuesday, Dutko released a statement saying Fein’s order “reflects intellectual honesty and courage in the face of what some viewed as a politically sensitive issue.”
Florida Sen. Rosalind Osgood, who the grand jury also investigated for her role as the Broward School Board chair, said Tuesday, “The entire grand jury ordeal was a political attack on Broward County Public Schools, certain School Board Members, Superintendent Runcie, and certain staff.”
The judge’s 28-page order
Judge's order to dismiss Runcie's case by AndreaTorres on Scribd
Local 10 News Futures Planner/Assignment Desk Editor Kerry Weston contributed to this report.