VOLUSIA EXPOSED

“...we didn't start the fire, no we didn't light, but we tried to fight it..”
~ Billy Joel (1989)

According to a recent Daytona Beach News Journal (DBNJ) editiorial titled, OUR VIEW: Sheriff Chitwood has made his point about sex-abuse case, the DBNJ voiced their OPINION that Sheriff Chitwood made his point, regarding , and now should just move on.

Many in the community, including Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, rightfully questioned the judicial logic of Senior Judge* R. Michael Hutcheson in granting convicted pedophile Mark Fugler an appeal bond (aka ), pending the conclusion of Fugler's conviction appeal through the 5th District Court of Appeal.

* Senior Judges are retired judges that routinely are asked to temporarily fill in when judicial vacancies happen, or caseloads are high.

In 2016, the Ormond Beach Police Department arrested Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Professor Mark Fugler for inappropriate conduct with a child under ten (10) years of age.

Shortly after his arrest, Fugler was assigned to Judge Matthew Foxman's docket, and remained on the Foxman docket, until one day last June (2019). With less than twenty-four hours prior to the start of trial, Chief Judge Raul Zambrano removed Judge Foxman as the trial judge, and .

During an October 3, 2019 hearing, Senior Judge Hutcheson openly admitted that he was asked on Monday (June 3, 2019) to take over the case on Tuesday (June 4, 2019). (see audio excerpt of Judge Hutcheson's statement - right of page -->)

This publication has repeatly questioned the Seventh Circuit, . The Circuit has only responded with vague references, reflecting the duties and responsibilities of senior judges in filling judicial vacancies.

While this publication is in agreement with most of the DBNJ's OPINION, we strongly disagree with the DBNJ, that there is no evidence that the Court provides special favors for those connected to the local power elite.

This publication argues that, our judges are as much the slaves of this local power elite, as Sheriff Chitwood has alleged that the Volusia County Council are the political puppets of this very same elite group of power brokers. ** SEE ABOVE VIDEO - SHERIFF CHITWOOD'S DECEMBER 5, 2018 NEWS CONFERENCE

December 5, 2018
Sheriff Mike Chitwood's
Press Conference
** Referenced throughout the press conference - with particular attention given to minutes 4:45 to 5:15

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During A October 3, 2019 Hearing, Senior Judge R. Michael Hutcheson Admits That He Was "Asked" To Preside Over The Fugler Case The Day Before The Trial Started.
PLAY AUDIO
EXCERPT OF HEARING

Judicial Support Of Our Theory

So, how do we (VolusiaExposed.Com) support our theory, that the local power structure maintains sway over our Courts and criminal justice system? Easy, don't believe little old us (VolusiaExposed.Com) - instead believe what the Court itself has said.

This publication is ready, willing, and able, to identify two current sitting judges that have given clear indicators, that in order to secure a judicial seat within this judicial circuit, the blessing of the local power structure must be secured.

A Judicial Appointment Requires Kissing The King Maker's Ring

As was highlighted within , in November 2018, the local Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) interviewed eighteen (18) local attorneys for consideration for a gubernatorial judicial appointment within the 7th Judicial Circuit. The judicial opening was due to the death of Circuit Court Judge Clyde Wolfe.

Local Ponte Vedra attorney, Bryan Rendzio interviewed for this open judicial position, and was selected to be one of the six short list judicial candidates that was forwarded to then Governor Rick Scott.

During Mr. Rendzio's JNC interview, Rendzio made a very interesting reference to Volusia County real estate developer, Mori Hosseini. During minutes 9:45 to 10:25, Mr. Rendzio acknowledges that he has "met with Mori Hosseini...I have made those contacts --->....

In the end, Mr. Rendzio was indeed appointed by Governor Scott to fill Judge Wolfe's open seat.

November 29, 2018
Bryan Rendzio's
Interview With The Judicial Nominating Commission
Watch & listen to minutes 9:45 to 10:25 ......"I met with Mori Hosseini...I have made those contacts...

Politics Is Politics

So what is the first goal of a newly elected politician? ANSWER - it's to get re-elected. And what is a primary goal of many newly appointed circuit court judge? ANSWER - it's to get appointed to the district court of appeal (DCA). And how does a circuit court judge secures a gubernatorial apppointment to the local DCA? ANSWER - well, that's easy, the judge prepares to meet with the king makers "(making those contacts)", and prepares to kiss the ring once again.

VolusiaExposed.Com has been covering the JNC interview process for several years now, therefore, we know a few things, because we have seen and heard a few things. Mori Hosseini's name is merely one of many names that have been thrown about by judicial candidates, in justifying their inclusion on the JNC's short list that is sent to the governor.

RELATED ARTICLE:
Resigning Judicial Nominating Commission Chairperson
Claims Governor's Office Interfered With Commission's Independence
Has The Validity Of 18th Circuit Judiciary Been Damaged?

In 2015, local attorney Mary Jolley also secured a gubernatorial appointment to the local judiciary.

Judge Jolley's ascension to the bench was very impressive, especially since in 2010, when she was merely a commissioner on the local JNC, she nominated one of her friends, Assistant County Attorney Nancye Jones for a judicial appointment. As is available within our , good old Mary, not only nominated Jones for the judicial appointment, but she wanted to hedge Jones' chances in obtaining the gubernatorial appointment, , requesting some additional assistance in securing the judicial appointment for Mrs. Jones.

In the end, Jones did not get the judicial appointment, but that MAY have been related to , and the filing of a complaint against Jolley, alleging that Jolley had violated JNC ethical standards.

We suspect that JNC Commissioner Jolley's actions were in violation of JNC and State of Florida ethical standards - but hey, for those who have seen the movie "Judge Dredd" - HE WAS THE LAW !!! - because, after-all, he was a judge. And five (5) years later, Jolley receives her gubernatorial appointment as a "Street" (Circuit) judge. See how all that works?

In Florida, justice is more about politics, than it is about the law. In Florida, if you are a criminal defendant, it's far better to be politically connected, than legally innocent. Pedophile Jeffrey Epstein knew this, and we now suspect, so does Mr. Fugler.

RELATED ARTICLE:
FLORIDA: A Pedophile's Paradise
The Perversion Of Justice by The Rich & Powerful

"On The Down Low"

The Court, and the local power structure, would really like to keep ALL of this "on the down low". After-all, if the public became aware of all this, they may lose their faith in the local justice system, and they may vote people out of office.

You may now, have a better appreciation as to why an elected judge (Foxman) might not wish to serve as the trial and sentencing judge on the Fugler case. So in walks retired (Senior) Judge Hutcheson. Hutcheson faces no political blow back, he is retired, and appointed to his position. Hutcheson can provide the status quo with what they need - without putting political careers in jeopardy - IF they can just keep ALL of this on the down low ...... but, then, in walks Sheriff "Media Mike" Chitwood.

Lack Of Information, Will Cause Speculation

While Sheriff Chitwood was asking for the Fugler incident to be "fixed" - this publication was more interested in how it transpired? In short, why was Judge Foxman replaced with Senior Judge Hutcheson? Sheriff Chitwood was more focused on simply getting Mr. Fugler back behind bars, without really questioning the process of how Fugler was able to secure his release from jail.

Because, the Seventh Judicial Circuit has only provided this publication with vague and incomplete responses, we are only left to speculate.

Given, that at least two current judges have memorialized the importance of having Mr. Hosseini's support in obtaining a judicial appointment. Given that Mr. Mark Fugler was a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). Given, that Given, that the Seventh Judicial Circuit can not provide this publication with rationale explanations of why Fugler's case was transferred from Judge Foxman, to Judge Hutcheson. Is it really inappropriate for us to speculate whether some political favors influenced Mr. Fugler's rather light criminal charges, his rather light criminal sentence, and lastly, his rather surprising appeal bond?

Is this publication stating that the politicial power base has swayed our judicial system? Obviously, given Judge Jolley's and Judge Rendzio's above comments, the answer to that question is "yes". However, their (power brokers) sway in the Fugler case, may have been un-intentional. In reality, the power brokers may not have even desired any special considerations for Fugler. But that still doesn't wipe out the fact, that many within the judicial system, to include sitting judges, know that Mr. Hosseini has ERAU's reputation to protect, and that he is the known judicial king maker.

Sheriff Chitwood, In Making His Point, He Makes Our Point,
That Politics Sway The Justice System

We admit, the DBNJ editorial has a point, that Sheriff Chitwood may not have argued the best case regarding the Fugler matter. Chitwood wasn't exactly hitting a bullseye with his argument. However, Chitwood was the ONLY elected official that was firing at the Fugler debacle. State Attorney R.J. Larizza was a "Johnny come lately" in arguing that Fugler's appeal bond should be retracted.

It's this publication's OPINION, that absent Sheriff Chitwood's efforts - the State Attorney would have never filed a motion for a bond reconsideration, and the . Ironically, Chitwood stirred up the electorate against the power base, and the Court - and the Court found a way to make the law fit the political arena. Which only provides further evidence, that within Florida's criminal justice system, powerful political connections far exceeds the power of the law. And the fire keeps burning......