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Highlands Today

Former Avon Park officer pleads guilty on misconduct charges

Perez gets 18 months prison, 42 months probation

Highlands County Sheriff's Office

Former Avon Park police officer Alberto Perez

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Published: November 9, 2009

Updated: 11/09/2009 03:29 pm

Former Avon Park police officer Alberto Perez pleaded guilty Monday morning to charges of extortion and official misconduct.

As per the plea agreement he entered into, Perez was sentenced to 18 months in the Florida State Prison system and an additional 42 months of probation.

Jailed since May 21, Perez also received credit for time already served. Assistant State Attorney David Ward said the state would be dropping a second charge of extortion and a perjury count.

Perez was before special Judge Jeff McKibben Monday for three cases stemming from a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into police misconduct that began over a year ago.

The former officer, who started with the APPD in 2007, was first arrested in December 2008 and charged with one count of extortion or threats. Perez reportedly conducted a traffic stop on April 19, 2008 and told the driver to pay him $200 or get a ticket.

He was arrested again in April on a second extortion charge, then a third time a few days later for the perjury charge.

Ward told McKibben that an ongoing FDLE investigation into Perez's charges would also cease as part of the plea agreement both sides reached Monday.

"The state will stop looking and will not file further charges against Mr. Perez, pursuant to any similar crimes that he is alleged to have committed while an Avon Park police officer," Ward said.

Perez will also relinquish all police standards, thereby ending his career in law enforcement.

"Mr. Perez, you were a law enforcement officer. You've been in court many times. I imagine in your career you participated in trials. Do you understand you have the right to a trial?" McKibben asked.

"Yes sir," said Perez, standing beside defense attorney David Dee, before acknowledging it was in his best interest to accept the plea agreement.

Another former Avon Park officer, Adam Willis, 31, was also charged in late 2008 in reference to same FDLE investigation. In May, he pleaded no contest to a charge of grand theft.

Willis reportedly removed a wallet from an unlocked car while he was on duty. The vehicle was equipped with surveillance equipment and was being used by the FDLE and the APPD for an undercover operation.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 23.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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