Trial continues for ex-Windermere police chief accused of perjury in child rape case

WINDERMERE, Fla. — The trial of former Windermere police Chief Daniel Saylor continued Wednesday morning.

Saylor is charged with perjury for allegedly giving false testimony last year before his friend Scott Bush was convicted.

During that trial, Saylor testified that the rape allegations were investigated and the state decided not to prosecute.

Shortly after a jury was seated Tuesday, the trial began.

The defense and state seated six people who have little prior knowledge of the Bush rape trial last year.

Saylor opted to go to trial rather than take a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for five years.

He's accused of telling a jury that prosecutors had once decided against charging Bush after a thorough investigation of rape accusations made in 2003, which prosecutors said is not true.

On Tuesday, the jury heard a recording of that testimony.

"They recommended to drop the charges," Saylor can be heard saying.

On Tuesday, an Orange County sheriff's sergeant said the only way his office would have investigated the allegations against Bush is if Saylor or one of his investigators asked for that, because the allegations were based in Windermere's jurisdiction.

Both the Sheriff's Office and the State Attorney's Office said there are no records to indicate Windermere police ever did that or ever investigated the Bush allegations on its own and forwarded the case to either agency for further consideration or action.

Bush was eventually convicted last year on subsequent accusations and sentenced to life in prison.

Even so, prosecutors said Saylor's testimony attacked the victims' credibility and put the case against Bush in jeopardy.

Saylor was fired and charged in 2011 after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found he covered up the earlier accusations against his friend Bush.

If Saylor is convicted of perjury, he could go to state prison for a maximum of 25 years.

WFTV