A Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office internal investigation on corrections officer and Live Oak Council President Adam Prins shows that there was no basis for criminal charges to be filed for remarks Prins reportedly made regarding the mayor.

Sheriff Tony Cameron suspended Prins with pay due to a written statement by the fire chief that recalled a conversation he had with Prins that caused the fire chief to fear for the mayor’s well being.
The statement by Live Oak Fire Chief Chad Croft was released by Live Oak Mayor Sonny Nobles at a meeting on March 12. The statement tells of a conversation on Monday, March 11, the fire chief had with Prins.

The investigative report reveals that Lt. Wayne Musgrove, who conducted the investigation, interviewed several people, including fellow council members and city staff regarding the letter and to determine if Prins had made threats to or about anyone else. Musgrove said in his report he is performing the investigation to determine if anything that had occurred could be criminal in nature.

At the onset of the investigation, Musgrove interviewed Croft who said the conversation in which he said Prins told him he fantasized about beating up the mayor was made in the courtyard of city hall.

They first discussed fire department matters and the Union, and then Prins stated he had issues with the mayor about the alcohol issue and a couple of other issues that he needed to talk to him about, then stated he couldn’t stand the mayor and then made the statement contained in the letter. Croft stated he was disturbed about the nature of the statement by Prins and the seriousness of the statement so he decided to speak with the mayor about it.

Croft said that Prins had made derogatory comments about the mayor before, but none as graphic as this statement.

Musgrove also talked with Mayor Sonny Nobles. Musgrove asked the mayor if he was aware of a “stick figure” drawing that Prins allegedly drew on a piece of paper labeling  it “Mayor”, had drawn a gun with a bullet leaving the gun and the head of the stick figure exploding and Prins allegedly made the statement to someone, “that is what he would like to do.”

Nobles said he was told about it but he never saw it. Nobles said Prins had never directly threatened him with violence but he has heard information getting back to him about statements Prins has made about him which includes threats of violence. Nobles said he is fearful because of the statement and knowing Prins is armed as an officer of the law.

Councilor Jacob Grantham stated he witnessed Prins draw what he described as a stick figure, when asked by Musgrove. Grantham said he didn’t remember this happening at a city council meeting, but within the last four or five months.

Grantham was then asked about any other acts of violence from Prins. Grantham related that on one occasion Prins had stated that he had worked at a local festival as a deputy with other deputies, showed Grantham scraped knuckles and then showed a facial picture on his cell phone saying this person’s face looked like this because of him (Prins). Grantham stated the face picture looked very beaten, busted nose and swollen lips and that he could recognize the person if shown a photo.

Grantham stated that Prins has made statements, acts of hatred statements about Nobles in the past, that he did not like the mayor, but could not remember specific statements.

After returning to his office, Musgrove researched records of any arrests made by Prins during any festivals and could not find any made by him, but there were two arrests made with the booking photo showing facial injuries.

Prins said that he had scraped his knuckles on a set of handcuffs while apprehending a suspect.

Musgrove made contact with Councilor Keith Mixon. He said he was aware of the letter. Mixon said Prins has made similar statements about the mayor in his presence along with others. Mixon said Prins has never made direct threats to him but he has been told that Prins has made statements to others that he would “whip my a**” (about Mixon).

Councilors Bennie Thomas and John Yulee told Musgrove in separate interviews they were not aware of Prins making any threats of violence towards anyone. Thomas said he was aware of the letter about the mayor. Yulee said he didn’t know about it.


No criminal charges

Musgrove said he talked with Third Circuit Assistant State Attorney Dave Phelps by phone advising him of the statements made by Prins during the investigation to inquire if there was any potential for criminal charges. Musgrove stated in the report that Phelps believed there was no basis for criminal charges.

Cell phone photo

On March 19, Musgrove finished the report and met with Prins the following morning. During the interview, Musgrove reached by phone the arresting officer of the individual that was allegedly on Prins’ phone. He stated Prins was working with him at the park when the individual had to be restrained by Prins, himself and a couple of officers. The officer said they had to fight two or three that weekend, and he was trying to remember who was present for that particular arrest. The officer said he didn’t witness anyone hitting him in the face, but that it took several of them to wrestle the individual down to place handcuffs on him, and that he had even scraped his knuckles on the concrete by holding the individual down.

Prins was asked about the photo on his cell phone. Prins said he was present during the arrest. Prins was asked if he made comments to Grantham and Live Oak Public Works Director Brent Whitman about his knuckles being scraped and this is the reason by showing them the photo, he said “yes.” Prins stated that his knuckles were caught on the handcuffs and he never hit the individual and said the person would tell he didn’t hit him either.

‘Not like they were written’

On March 20, Musgrove met with Prins to present his findings and provide a copy of the officer’s Bill of Rights. Musgrove asked Prins if he made those statements, he said “not like they were written.” He remembered the statement being made in jest, “I’d like to smash the mayor’s teeth in,” is what he remembered saying and “I can picture his mouth bleeding,” and he remembered Croft laughing after he made the comment. Prins said he was not serious, he never battled internally whether or not to physically harm the mayor.

Musgrove then read through the statement on Croft’s letter. Under oath, Prins stated that was not the statement he made. Musgrove then asked Prins if he had made similar statements, and he admitted making such statements in jest on prior occasions.

Stick figure

Prins was asked if he remembered drawing the “stick figure”, he stated he did not remember doing it, but said if he did, he doesn’t know where it was at but probably the mayor was going off on a rant and (he pointed his finger to his head mimicking pulling a trigger on a gun) and he would have to listen to this. He stated it was not as if he would like to kill the mayor.


Statement from Cameron


In a written reprimand dated April 9, Cameron stated the investigation was completed and the findings revealed that no crime was committed.

“I am not sure that you understand the ramifications of your actions and how they affect the Office of the Sheriff of Suwannee County. Employee’s personal lives are to reflect positively on the reputation of this Agency.”

He continued, “It is the finding of this investigation that you have violated policy by engaging in conduct unbecoming of an officer. As a Corrections Officer with this Agency you represent the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office at all times on or off duty. Your comments to others in reference to the Mayor have brought tarnish to the Badge that you wear and adversely affect the reputation of this Agency. This type of behavior can not and will not be tolerated.”

The appeal

Prins appealed the written reprimand in a letter to Cameron on April 17.

“I have never attended any City of Live Oak meetings in my Sheriff’s Office uniform. I have done this intentionally to avoid the appearance of any correlation between the two as it relates to me,” Prins wrote.

He continued, “The alleged comment was taken from a private conversation between Chief Croft and myself. I never threatened Mayor Nobles. None of the allegations suggest anything was done publicly. It is only public because Chief Croft and Mayor Nobles chose to make it public. Had they not made that choice, the investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office would not have been initiated.”

Cameron told the Democrat Monday that the ordeal is over. 
“The only person he can appeal it to is me,” Cameron said. “His appeal was denied.”
Prins told the Democrat in an email on Wednesday that he stands “in awe of the good that has come from something which appeared dismal when it happened.”
“While I refute the chief’s version of my comments, I know I have said things I should not have said,” said Prins. 
He said the experience has returned him to “an awareness of who I am and who I represent.”

Croft said by phone Thursday that he still stands by his statement “one hundred percent” but that he is “happy” with the outcome of the investigation.


“I hate to see anyone lose their livelihood,” said Croft. “I still feel his position as a city councilman, he needs to lose that.”


Croft said that he was willing to take a polygraph test to prove his statement, but was never given one.


“I  thought that would be appropriate during the investigation,” said Croft.


Nobles said he filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics last week.

Kerrie Stillman, spokesperson for the Commission, said that complaints filed remain confidential until the Ethics Commission rules on them.


“I’m satisfied with the sheriff’s determination,” said Nobles. “ I didn’t want Adam to lose his job, he has a family to raise.”


Nobles said he is still upset about the comments made by Prins and not just toward him, but toward others.