More than four years after they brought the case, prosecutors in Florida have dropped a felony perjury charge against former Broward County School Superintendent Robert Runcie.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Runcie and the Office of Statewide Prosecution reached an agreement in which Runcie acknowledged that he made untrue statements but not admit to any crime. He also agreed not to violate the law for six months and to pay $4,741.52 for the costs of prosecution.
The agreement was announced shortly before jury selection was to begin Monday morning.
Runcie was indicted in April 2021 when prosecutors accused him of giving false statements to a grand jury when asked about whether he was prepped for his testimony.
Runcie answered no, according to the grand jury transcript, but prosecutors produced evidence that he had spoken to Mary Coker, who was then the procurement director, to get assistance on a contract he was being asked about.
A judge dismissed the charge in 2023, but an appeals court reinstated the case in 2024. Runcie, who had been appointed Broward County superintendent in 2011, resigned shortly after being indicted.
