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Sheriff Will Attend Lunsford Event

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By THOMAS W. KRAUSE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

Updated: 02/23/2008 09:19 am

Despite activist Mark Lunsford's announcement that he likely will sue the Citrus County Sheriff Office, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said Friday that he will give a speech at a motorcycle-ride fundraiser run by Lunsford that will benefit Lunsford's charities.

Dawsy said he has heard from members of the community who are concerned about the possible lawsuit and are wary of today's motorcycle ride. In a prepared statement, he wrote that he hopes people put aside their qualms and attend the important charity event.

"For those in the public who have voiced concerns about 'Jessie's Ride' due to recent developments," Dawsy wrote, "please know that the anticipated litigation and the motorcycle ride are two separate issues."

Motorcyclists will ride from New Port Richey to Crystal River to raise money. Proceeds benefit the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation and Jessie's Place, a child advocacy center planned for Citrus County. Mark Lunsford is president of the foundation, which is named after his murdered daughter.

On Wednesday, Dawsy received a letter from Lunsford's attorneys alerting him that Lunsford expects to file a lawsuit alleging that negligence led to the death of his daughter.

In 2005, 9-year-old Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford was abducted from her Homosassa trailer. After several days of searching, her murdered body was found buried near the trailer of John Evander Couey.

Last year, Couey was found guilty of Jessie's abduction and rape. He was sentenced to death.

Dawsy said he spoke to a member of the executive board for Jessie's Place. He was assured that most of the fundraiser's proceeds will go toward child advocacy centers and Jessie's Place specifically.

At 1:30 p.m. today, at the conclusion of the charity ride, Dawsy will give a speech, he said in the released statement. Jessie's Place, he said, is a worthy cause that community members should support.

Attorney: Suit To Expose Mistakes

Mark Gelman, Lunsford's attorney, said Thursday that the possible lawsuit is not intended to win money for Lunsford and his former wife. Government agencies are liable for a maximum $100,000 in lawsuits unless the Legislature approves more.

Instead, Gelman said, the lawsuit is intended to expose mistakes made in the search for Jessie and mistakes present in all law enforcement policies regarding missing children.

Upon Couey's arrest, he told authorities that he abducted Jessie, brought her to his trailer and kept her in his closet for several days. While she was still alive, he said, law enforcement officers knocked on his door and spoke with his sister while he hid.

When the search became more involved, Couey said, he panicked. He dug a shallow grave and buried Jessie alive.

Prosecutors and the sheriff have said they do not think Jessie was kept alive for any length of time. They said evidence shows that she died the night she was abducted.

While law enforcement searched for Jessie, her father was under investigation. Undercover officers followed him, and he was asked to take two lie detector tests.

Financial Details

Financial documents filed by the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation state that the primary focus of the nonprofit organization is to provide public awareness and education for the safety of children regarding sexual predators.

The documents show that between July 2006 and last June, the foundation collected about $150,000. The year before, the foundation collected about $100,000.

Lunsford, as foundation president, took an annual salary of $20,800 in the 2005-06 fiscal year and $54,800 last fiscal year. He still lists his home address as his parents' Homosassa mobile home.

Over the past two years, the foundation spent $38,000 on travel. Lunsford has spoken before legislative bodies in several states.

More than $12,000 has been spent on phone bills, and about $25,000 has been spent on office equipment and furniture. In June 2007, the foundation had nearly $79,000 in available cash.

Cherie Sanders, the treasurer for the foundation, said it has plans to donate significant funds to Jessie's Place and other advocacy centers.

Since announcing the possible lawsuit, Gelman and Lunsford have declined to offer details. Gelman has said witness statements and evidence from the trial show a pattern of negligence. Gelman said specifics on the lawsuit will be discussed Monday on TV's "The O'Reilly Factor" and at a Tuesday news conference.

Documents and witness statements also will be released, Gelman said.

Gelman said that since Thursday's announcement, people who had volunteered in the 2005 search for Jessie have sent him e-mail and have called his office. Many, he said, had complaints about the sheriff's office and its investigation but did not have anywhere to air those complaints until now.

On the other hand, motorcyclist Al March, who plans to participate in today's ride, said the sheriff's office did the best it could during Jessie's disappearance and that many people likely will be upset with Lunsford about the possible lawsuit.

"Doing this, it's like a slap in the face if you ask me," March said. "He's burning bridges."

Reporter Josh Poltilove contributed to this report. Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at tkrause@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7698.

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