Prins back at work


Published 10:00 am Thursday, April 11, 2013

Live Oak City Council President Adam Prins is back at work at his private job with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office as an investigation looking into remarks he reportedly made to the Live Oak fire chief regarding the mayor winds down, according to Sheriff Tony Cameron.

However, the case is still open.

“The case is still not closed,” Cameron said.


Cameron said Prins was allowed to return to work today.

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Cameron conducted an internal investigation after allegations were made by Live Oak Fire Chief Chad Croft, stating Prins made comments that caused the fire chief to fear for the mayor’s well being.

At a city council meeting on March 12, Live Oak Mayor Sonny Nobles distributed the written statement from Croft. The statement tells of a conversation on Monday, March 11, the fire chief had with Prins that Croft said caused him “grave concern of not only Mayor Nobles’ physical well being, but that of Mr. Prins’ emotional state.”

Croft said the comments, which included obscene references, were made in the courtyard outside of city hall and that he would “testify under oath, subject myself to a lie detector test and or any other means that may be required to prove the validity of this statement.”


Croft said he issued the statement at the request of the mayor. He also confirmed to the Suwannee Democrat that he was the author of the statement.

Prins was suspended from his work the same day the reported conversation took place.

“The statement in the letter prompted us to do an internal investigation,” said Cameron.

Prins told the Democrat in a phone message a couple days later that he did not say what was written.

Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister confirmed on Wednesday that he was not aware of any complaint against Prins in his office and his office was not involved with the investigation. Siegmeister said since the event was verbal and conditional, he didn’t think criminal charges could be sought.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s spokesperson, Gretl Plessinger, also confirmed that FDLE was not involved in any investigation.

Prins would not comment on the record on where the investigation stands, or his return to work.