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Rep. Allen Resigns After Soliciting-Sex Conviction

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The Associated Press

Published: November 17, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - State Rep. Bob Allen resigned Friday after being convicted of agreeing to pay $20 to perform oral sex on an undercover police officer in the men's room of a Titusville park.

The Merritt Island Republican submitted his resignation to House Speaker Marco Rubio, who had been pressing Allen to give up his seat since Nov. 9, when a Brevard County jury found him guilty of soliciting sex.

Allen was sentenced to six months on probation and fined $250 Thursday, when he also filed an appeal.

"Due to the requirements of my family and private life, and in order to seek justice in the upcoming appeal process, I regretfully would like to inform you that I will need to resign," Allen wrote in the letter to Rubio, R-West Miami.

His resignation will go into effect Feb. 15, or when a replacement is elected. Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to order a special election in Allen's Space Coast district.

If Allen had not resigned the House could have removed him, but probably not until March, when the Legislature begins its next regular session.

Officer Danny Kavanaugh testified the lawmaker peered over a stall at him in July and asked to go somewhere private. Kavanaugh said he then told Allen: "I'm looking to get some money. Can you hook me up with $20."
Defense lawyers denied Allen was seeking sex but was afraid the officer intended to rob him, so he went along with whatever the officer said until he could get away.

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