ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — One of Orange County's biggest scandals just got worse. A man was arrested for allegedly tampering with witnesses in the criminal case against suspended commissioner Mildred Fernandez.
DOCUMENTS: Probable Cause Order | Arrest Affidavit
Investigators say, the man threatened to kill a woman and her dog. The man arrested was one of Fernandez's paid campaign workers.
Suspect Jose Colom is accused of threatening a prosecution witness at the Republican Party's Orange County office just last month and then again on the phone. He's also accused of threatening to kill Fernandez's campaign manager, twice.
Colom often shows up at Fernandez's court hearings for her bribery, racketeering and grand theft charges. He signed up as a candidate for her District 3 seat when it's up for a vote. He does odd painting jobs and travels by bicycle.
Investigators say they caught Colom making threats against witnesses who will be called to testify against Fernandez. Investigators don't know why he got involved in her mayoral campaign or why he was so passionate about it.
One witness says Colom threatened "he would take me out," that he "would be done" if he testified against Fernandez and threatened that the witness's wife, who was one of Fernandez's campaign managers, would "get hers" if she testified and accused her of framing Fernandez.
WFTV has learned Fernandez's campaign manager, Emily Thoemke, faced death threats, which frightened her so badly she asked for police protection.
"This occurred two different times and escalated the second time, not only killing her but also killing her dog," chief investigator Randy Means told WFTV.
For now, Colom is charged with two counts of witness tampering. He turned himself in over the weekend and is out of jail on $16,000 bond.
"It's a very serious felony and it's because the system would break down if we spent our time threatening witnesses and they didn't testify," Means explained.
Colom would not talk on camera Tuesday, but told WFTV he's innocent, it's a fabrication, and claims the local Republican Party does not want an Hispanic candidate. He withdrew from the commissioner's race the day after he found out he was facing charges.
Investigators would not confirm which campaign Colom was involved with, but court records show it was Fernandez's. WFTV asked whether Fernandez knew about the threats or was involved.
"I really can't say whether there's any connection with the original case and the threats. That's something that we will develop if it develops later on," Means said.
WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer says if there's evidence Fernandez is tied to the threats, she could face additional charges and it could strengthen the case against her.
"It would be some indication of guilty knowledge on her part that she would have then have participated in a witness tampering event," Sheaffer explained.
Attorneys in the Fernandez case will meet before a judge next month. A case management conference is scheduled for December 10. Trial is set for May 23, 2011.
Previous Stories: October 11, 2010: Fernandez's Request To Remove Attorney Denied August 6, 2010: Luigi Damiani To Replace Arrested Commissioner July 21, 2010: Plea Deal Details Revealed For Arrested Commissioner July 13, 2010: Attorney: Mildred Fernandez Rejected Plea Deal July 9, 2010: Prosecutors Offer Plea Deal To Fernandez June 11, 2010: Video Shows Commissioner Accepting Alleged Bribe June 3, 2010: Suspended Commissioner Quits Mayoral Race June 1, 2010: Documents Released In Commissioner Bribery Case
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