ORLANDO --
Former Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer pleaded guilty Monday morning to four charges of grand theft, avoiding trial in a case that could have potentially embarrassed former Gov. Charlie Crist and much of the state’s Republican elite.
Greer stood next to his lawyer Damon Chase a little before 10:30 a.m. and entered four separate guilty pleas as part of a last-minute deal with prosecutors. Jury selection had been expected to begin this morning.
“Sometimes clearing your name is not as important as taking care of your family,” Chase said.
Greer declined to comment as he left the courtroom.
As part of the deal, Greer faces a maximum of 42.6 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled March 27.
A trial threatened to expose inner workings and potentially sordid details of the Republican Party of Florida as well as is top leaders past and present.
The case centered around Greer’s creation of a company to handle fundraising duties for the state GOP, Victory Strategies. Greer diverted about $200,000 in party funds to Victory Strategies but contended Republican leaders — including Crist — knew about the arrangement and approved of it.
Crist, who likely would have been called to testify during the trial, denies knowing about the fundraising arrangement.
Others who had been expected to testify include House Speaker Dean Cannon, former Senate President Mike Haridopolos, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, state Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine and a long list of other GOP notables.
Though Greer and Chase had said the case would go to trial, talks of a plea deal have been in the works for weeks.
Greer is still suing the state GOP in an effort to collect $130,000 he was promised when he agreed to resign as chairman in 2010.
Former state GOP chairman Jim Greer pleads guilty to theft
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Former state GOP chairman Jim Greer pleads guilty to theft
