Plea reached in Dan Andrews case

Dan Andrews apologized to all those who felt he let them down Tuesday afternoon, just hours after a plea agreement was reached in Polk County in the two cases against him.

The 10 Highlands County charges against Andrews - eight counts of making false entry on the books of a corporation, one count of scheming to defraud and one count of grand theft of $20,000 or more - were dropped because of restitution paid, according to Chip Thulberry, spokesperson for the State Attorney's Office in Bartow.

Andrews paid approximately $8,774.67 to the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce and $42,918 to Mid Florida Federal Credit Union, according to court records.

In Polk County, he was charged with two counts each of making false statements to a financial institution and obligating a corporation beyond an authorized amount.

He entered a plea of no contest to one count of obligating a corporation beyond an authorized amount, while the other three charges were dropped.

Andrews received a 36-month suspended prison sentence as a condition of 60 months probation.

"If he violates that probation, he's sentenced to 36 months in prison," Thulberry said.

A final stipulation of the agreement is that Andrews cannot serve on the board of directors of the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce or hold an account at Mid Florida Federal Credit Union during his probation, according to the statement.

The settlement does allow Andrews to retain his seat on the Sebring City Council, but he has chosen not to take the position back.

"As of today, I have sent my official letter of resignation to Council President John Griffin and I do not intend to retain my seat as city councilman," Andrews said in the statement. "I feel that it is in the best interest of my family and the citizens of the great city of Sebring that Mr. John Clark continue to fulfill the remaining year on my term."

On Nov. 26, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist filed an order that removed Andrews from the Sebring City Council.

Andrews was originally arrested on Nov. 24, 2008 on charges of grand theft, scheming to defraud under $20,000 and making false entries on corporate books following a seven-month investigation by the state attorney's office.

The allegations were that Andrews used chamber credit cards to obtain golf clubs for himself, buy a necklace for his wife, landscape his home and splurge on restaurant meals for people who may not have been chamber clients.

Before Andrews was fired, chamber board members and accountants discovered about $86,000 in dedicated scholarship funds had been moved to an operational fund and spent.

In his statement, Andrews said personal charges were put on the credit cards, but that all money was reimbursed.

"I did purchase a Christmas present for my wife on the company credit card in an effort to surprise her," the statement said, "and I also purchased stain and paint for the deck at my house so that the Chamber could host a Key Leader reception there.

"I never intended for any personal charges not to be reimbursed and have made sure any charges were reimbursed."

In a lengthy statement released Tuesday, Andrews said he was looking forward to "rebuilding tarnished relationships" and "creating solid foundations in all of my future endeavors."

"One of the amazing aspects of this entire ordeal is the strength it has given to my wife and me," Andrews said in the statement. "I have a truly remarkable and amazing wife, who has stuck by my side through thick and thin."

Attorney Bill Fletcher called the agreement fair. Just last week, he mentioned to Special Judge Jeff McKibben that the case was "overwhelming" and asked for a continuance.

It was set for jury selection on Feb. 8.

"Dan did want the people to know what the truth was," Fletcher said. "It wasn't going to come out without going to trial."