State Attorney Dennis Ward Not Inclined to Prosecute Virginia Street Wall Artists

WARD GETS A THUMBS UP!
- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi -  Dec 28, 2011


In a brief conversation today with State Attorney Dennis Ward, he stated that after reading initial news reports and reviewing Key West Police Department Incident Reports that the Office of the State Attorney did not currently have the inclination to prosecute those charged with painting the Virginia Street wall scheduled for demolition.

The charges, violations of state statutes that rise to the level needed for prosecution, were levied by Key West Police Department, apparently at the behest of City officials, against artist who expressed disdain at the wall's proposed demolition.  The wall, which had been built by the property owner on the City right-of-way decades ago, is questionably the property of the home owner when one considers the State of Florida's Adverse Possession laws.  It has not yet truly been determined which City officials orchestrated this "Nazi-esque" exhibition of government gone wild, but rest assured this is one shell Naked Conch plans to expose!

Ward expressed his reservation of wasting continued public resources on the issue, but will make a final determination in the short term after consulting Chief Assistant State Attorney Manny Madruga and Chief Investigator Mark Wilson.

Ward deserves a big thumbs up for this sentiment, and his defense of freedom of speech.

    

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