ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Former Expressway Authority board member Scott Batterson, who was convicted of bribery, was denied bond Tuesday.
Batterson was found guilty of bribery for offering a multimillion-dollar toll agency contract to a vendor in exchange for the promise to hire subcontractors of Batterson's choosing.
Batterson's wife, Cara, became very emotional in court as attorneys discussed the family's financial issues. She said they have no source of income and their children need Batterson at home.
"Has your savings been depleted during these past months?" asked attorney Amy Tingley.
"Substantially," Batterson said.
Batterson tried to convince the judge that he lost his longtime job with an engineering firm and needs to be out on bail so he can work with his father's company. He asked the judge to allow him to go home and work at least until his Oct. 17 sentencing.
"Do you have any children?" asked Tingley.
"I do. I have a um, 7-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl," said Cara Batterson.
Prosecutors argued against granting bond but were sympathetic to the family's hardships.
"This is a place that causes a lot of tears for a lot of people, but that does not mean that justice needs to be denied," said prosecutor Rick Walsh.
Batterson's lawyer tried to convince the judge to let him out on a GPS monitor, but he was denied.
Prosecutors said they will push for the minimum sentence under the state's guidelines, which would be 3 1/2 years in state prison.
WFTV
