MADEIRA BEACH — Two top city officials were found guilty last week by the Florida Commission on Ethics for violating state ethics laws.
Commissioner Nancy Oakley was fined $5,000 and a recommendation of “public censure” and reprimand by the governor.
The action against Oakley followed an administrative law judge’s findings upholding a complaint by former City Manager Shane Crawford that alleged she had sexually harassed him by licking his face and groping him at a public event.
Fire Chief Derryl O’Neal was fined $2,000 following an administrative law judge’s findings that he had “corruptly” used his office by storing his personal property, a Jet Ski, on city-owned property.
O’Neal was also ordered to reimburse the city $2,320, bring the total penalty to $4,320.
He did not receive a public censure or reprimand because of his “many years of service to the city” and a lack of evidence that he had previously violated state ethics laws.
Both Oakley and O’Neal had unsuccessfully asked the ethics commission to dismiss the complaints against them.