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Lunsford Deal Hits Obstacle

Tribune file photos

Citrus Co. Sheriff Jeff Dawsy wants Mark Lunsford to drop his proposed lawsuit before the two men meet.

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By THOMAS W. KRAUSE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2008

TAMPA - A deal intended to stop Mark Lunsford from filing a lawsuit against the Citrus County Sheriff's Office has hit a snag.

Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy has asked Lunsford to drop any potential legal action before they sit down to meet. Lunsford's attorneys, in turn, said they will not withdraw their letter that threatens to sue the sheriff.

Then they upped the ante: Lunsford wants to meet the sheriff Friday and plans to be waiting for him at the Jacksonville office of Lunsford's attorneys.

On Wednesday, Dawsy said he was not sure whether he would go to the meeting because he had not seen the attorneys' letter. Dawsy said he would like to meet privately with the family about their concerns with the case but not with attorneys in the shadow of a looming lawsuit.

Last week, attorneys for Lunsford and radio shock-jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem announced a deal extended to Dawsy. If the sheriff would meet with Lunsford to discuss law enforcement policy changes that would help find missing children, Lunsford would withdraw an intent-to-sue notice he sent the sheriff. Clem, in turn, would cease his on-air criticism of Lunsford.

They also want Dawsy to acknowledge investigative mistakes in the 2005 search for Lunsford's 9-year-old daughter, who was abducted and killed.

"They want me to admit I did something wrong; that's just not going to happen," Dawsy said.

Letter From Clem Attorney Released

On Wednesday, the sheriff released a letter from Stephen Diaco, Clem's attorney.

In the letter, Diaco wrote that the sheriff will agree to meet with Lunsford and, at Lunsford's request, officials with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Dawsy would be willing to discuss changes in policy "if needed," Diaco wrote.

Diaco said Dawsy's only request was that Lunsford withdraw his intent to sue before they meet. Diaco asked for a response from Lunsford's attorneys by Friday.

Hours after Diaco's letter was released, Rick Block, a Lunsford attorney, said Friday will mark an important deadline - but not the one Dawsy expected.

"We will be waiting on the sheriff with a hot pot of coffee," Block said. "We hope he shows up."

Asked whether the intent-to-sue notice would be withdrawn by then, Block said no.

"When we had our initial press conference, we said from Day One: If the sheriff's office will admit that mistakes were made, there will not be a lawsuit," the lawyer said.

Airing Of Negotiations Shocks Block

Block said he was shocked that Diaco's letter was released.

In his letter to Dawsy, he criticized the sheriff for releasing Diaco's letter, Block said. The lawyer said it was released to "paint Mark Lunsford into a corner."

When Lunsford announced his plans to sue, Clem lambasted him on the radio. Block sent a letter to Clem, warning him to stop.

Clem told The Tampa Tribune that his understanding from Block last week was that Lunsford would drop the intent to sue before meeting with the sheriff. When legal action is pending, Clem said, people are much less willing to sit down and talk rationally.

Clem said he feels betrayed by Block, who announced the original deal on his radio show. Asked whether he will take the high road and quit talking about Lunsford, Clem balked.

"No," he said. "Bubba the Love Sponge doesn't take the high road too often, especially when I've been two-timed and double-crossed."

News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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