Attorneys for suspended Orlando commissioner want trial witness barred for ‘contradictory and false answers'
The 17-page motion filed Friday by Hill's defense team seeks to remove Sandra Lewis from the case against Hill, who was indicted last year. Hill is accused of exploiting a 96-year-old woman by draining her savings of more than $100,000 after getting control of her finances. Prosecutors say Hill used a document notarized by Lewis to purchase a west Orlando home in her own name, with the elderly woman as a co-signer.
Lewis is expected to testify against Hill in the trial, which is for now slated for the fall, though could be delayed further.
Hill's attorney Fritz Scheller said in the Friday filing that his team had a difficult time interviewing Lewis over the course of two depositions, finding her answers evasive and at times dishonest. The defense attorneys asked Lewis about her political activity and her work for the City of Orlando in the past year.
Central to the motion's claims are questions about Lewis' time as a canvasser for former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain, who held the post when Hill was indicted. Bain's political committee paid Lewis more than $41,000 for 'outreach services' in his failed campaign last year to keep the job.
She also evaded questions about working for Hill's replacement, interim City Commissioner Shan Rose. Lewis worked for Rose as a temporary employee following her special election win.
The filing further targets Lewis' work with Eboni Beauty Academy, a nonprofit that apparently doubles as a political strategy firm.
'In her depositions, Lewis demonstrated both a willful and blatant disregard for her obligations as a state witness – a witness who was under subpoena and oath,' Scheller wrote. 'She intentionally avoided questions and provided contradictory and false answers throughout her depositions. The notion that the State would proceed with this witness is disturbing.'
The Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office led by Monique Worrell, which is prosecuting Hill along with the Office of Statewide Prosecution, did not immediately respond to questions about the motion. Lewis declined to comment.
The charges against Hill go beyond what Lewis is expected to have relevant testimony about, so it is not clear how much damage Lewis' removal would do if a judge agrees with the defense attorneys.
The case against Hill is expansive, charging she used the older woman's money on expenses like rental cars, hotel rooms and vitamin injections, none of which benefited the woman.
At the time Hill was indicted in 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis had removed Worrell from office and had appointed Bain as state attorney. Worrell, a Democrat, returned to the job in January after defeating Bain, running as an independent.
Rose didn't respond to a request for comment.
Records obtained and reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel appear to lend credence to some of the arguments made in the filing regarding the activities involving Eboni Beauty Academy.
First formed as a for-profit business in 1989, it was later reorganized as a nonprofit in 1992 only to fold and restart on-and-off in the ensuing years, state business filings show. The school's most recent reinstatement was in 2017, based out of a house on Lenox Boulevard near Lake Mann.
Despite its existence as an active nonprofit in both state and federal records, Eboni Beauty Academy is not licensed to operate as a cosmetology school — and it never was, according to a database from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Records confirm Lewis had a cosmetology license that expired in October 2017.
In her depositions described in the filing, she testified that Eboni is a 'mobile beauty school' that hosts students at her residence while also traveling to clients' homes and sometimes operating out of beauty salons. Lewis refused to answer which salons were used, stating: 'That's not your business.'
The filing also claims Lewis couldn't recall 'the name of any student that graduated from Eboni,' nor the names of the company's board members.
Additionally, in her application to work for the City of Orlando, which was obtained by the Sentinel, 'Eboni' is listed as part of her job experience without reference to it being a beauty school. That business — based out of the same Lenox Boulevard residence as the alleged school — is instead described as a political strategy firm where she worked from 2010 to 2021 advising elected officials and candidates as a field coordinator.
Among the candidates she consulted, according to the depositions described by Hill's legal team, are Bain and Rose. Neither the beauty school nor the firm appear to have a website nor any other online presence, nor does the latter appear to exist in state or federal databases.
Furthermore, campaign finance reports don't show Rose having paid Eboni or Lewis for canvassing, though Bain's campaign paid Lewis $41,095 for 'outreach services' between August and November. No payments were made to Eboni, an entity through which she said she paid other canvassers.
Those payments came months after Hill's indictment.
Hill's lawyers characterized her testimony regarding Eboni as 'suffused with falsehoods.'
'First, it was a beauty school with students she could not remember, then it was a canvassing company for Bain and Rose, and then it was both,' according to their filing.
The questions of Eboni Beauty Academy's legitimacy didn't stop it from receiving a $3,200 donation from Insomniac Cares on Feb. 10, the result of a years-old agreement between the city and the nonprofit tied to the organizers of the Electric Daisy Carnival.
Every year, Insomniac Cares donates tens of thousands of dollars to organizations in District 5 as a way to help the community following the annual rave, which often draws complaints of booming noise and other disruptions. The donations, disbursed by city-run nonprofit Strengthen Orlando, primarily go to surrounding neighborhood associations, which this year received $45,000.
The rest, totaling $30,000, went to local community organizations with the stipulation that the money be used 'to benefit the entire neighborhood in the form of building improvements, landscaping projects and other community needs.'
The address for Eboni Beauty Academy falls outside of the city limits, according to city property records.
In response to questions about the protocols for distributing the donations, city spokesperson Andrea Otero said that is determined by the district commissioner, which is now Rose.
'The intent of the monies are to those neighborhoods directly affected by the EDC event. However, there are no requirements,' she added.
That detail, Hill's attorneys said, is one Lewis claimed she didn't know despite the donation appearing to have been granted while working for Rose's office, where Otero said she remains employed 'in a temporary status.'
Lewis denied knowing where the $3,200 came from in her sworn testimony, even though a document confirming the donation appears to contain her signature. Hill's legal team called her denial 'ludicrous.'
'It is likely Lewis' answer was designed to evade the inconvenient fact that Eboni improperly received money that was intended for entities in District Five where the EDC was held,' their filing argued.
_____
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
an hour ago
- Epoch Times
Some Democrats Absent as National Governors Association Wrestles With Partisanship
COLORADO SPRINGS—In the shadow of the Rockies at a resort hotel, state leaders assembled on July 25 and 26—some of them, anyway. They came to the Broadmoor for the National Governors Association's summer meeting, where Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, handed over the leadership gavel to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican.
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
It's a year of rapid change, except when it comes to Trump's approval numbers, AP-NORC polling finds
WASHINGTON — Eric Hildenbrand has noticed prices continue to rise this year, even with President Donald Trump in the White House. He doesn't blame Trump, his choice for president in 2024, but says Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats who control his home state, California, are at fault. 'You can't compare California with the rest of the country,' said Hildenbrand, who is 76 and lives in San Diego. 'I don't know what's going on in the rest of the country. It seems like prices are dropping. Things are getting better, but I don't necessarily see it here.' Voters like Hildenbrand, whose support of the Republican president is unwavering, help explain Trump's polling numbers and how they have differed from other presidents' polling trajectory in significant ways. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in March found that 42% of U.S. adults approved of Trump's job performance. That is a lower rating than those of other recent presidents at the beginning of their second terms, including Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George W. Bush. The most recent AP-NORC poll, from July, puts Trump at 40% approval. While that is not a meaningful change from March, there is some evidence that Trump's support may be softening, at least on the margins. The July poll showed a slight decrease in approval of his handling of immigration since earlier in the year. Some other pollsters, such as Gallup, show a downward slide in overall approval since slightly earlier in his term, in January. But even those shifts are within a relatively narrow range, which is typical for Trump. The new AP-NORC polling tracker shows that Trump's favorability rating has remained largely steady since the end of his first term, with between 33% and 43% of U.S. adults saying they viewed him favorably across more than five years. Those long-term trends underscore that Trump has many steadfast opponents. But loyal supporters also help explain why views of the president are hard to change even as he pursues policies that most Americans do not support, using an approach that many find abrasive. Trump has not had a traditional honeymoon period in his second term. He did not in his first, either. An AP-NORC poll conducted in March 2017, two months into his first term, showed that 42% of Americans 'somewhat' or 'strongly' approved of his performance. That is largely where his approval rating stayed over the course of the next four years. The recent slippage on immigration is particularly significant because that issue was a major strength for Trump in the 2024 election. Earlier in his second term, it was also one of the few areas where he was outperforming his overall approval. In March, about half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of immigration. But the July AP-NORC poll found his approval on immigration at 43%, in line with his overall approval rating. Other recent polls show growing discontent with Trump's approach on immigration. A CNN/SSRS poll found that 55% of U.S. adults say the president has gone too far when it comes to deporting immigrants who are living in the United States illegally, an increase of 10 percentage points since February. 'I understand wanting to get rid of illegal immigrants, but the way that's being done is very aggressive,' said Donovan Baldwin, 18, of Asheboro, North Carolina, who did not vote in the 2024 election. 'And that's why people are protesting because it comes off as aggression. It's not right.' Ratings of Trump's handling of the economy, which were more positive during his first term, have been persistently negative in his second term. The July poll found that few Americans think Trump's policies have benefited them so far. Even if he is not a fan of everything Trump has done so far, Brian Nichols, 58, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is giving him the benefit of the doubt. Nichols, who voted for Trump in 2024, likes what he is seeing from the president overall, though he has his concerns both on style and substance, particularly Trump's social media presence and his on-again, off-again tariffs. Nichols also does not like the push to eliminate federal agencies such as the Education Department. Despite his occasional disagreements with Trump, though, Nichols said he wants to give the president space to do his job, and he trusts the House and Senate, now run by Republicans, to act as a safeguard. 'We put him into office for a reason, and we should be trusting that he's doing the job for the best of America,' Nichols said. Trump has spent the past six months pushing far-reaching and often unpopular policies. Earlier this year, Americans were bracing themselves for higher prices as a result of his approach to tariffs. The July poll found that most people think Trump's tax and spending bill will benefit the wealthy, while few think it will pay dividends for the middle class or people like them. Discomfort with individual policies may not translate into wholesale changes in views of Trump, though. Those have largely been constant through years of turmoil, with his favorability rating staying within a 10-percentage point range through the COVID-19 pandemic, a felony conviction and attempted assassination. To some of his supporters, the benefits of his presidency far outweigh the costs. Kim Schultz, 62, of Springhill, Florida said she is thrilled with just about everything Trump is doing as president, particularly his aggressive moves to deport anyone living in the country illegally. Even if Trump's tariffs eventually take effect and push prices up, she said she will not be alarmed. 'I've always had the opinion that if the tariffs are going to cost me a little bit more here and there, I don't have a problem with that,' she said. Across the country, Hildenbrand dislikes Trump's personality and his penchant for insults, including those directed at foreign leaders. But he thinks Trump is making things happen. 'More or less, to me, he's showing that he's on the right track,' he said. 'I'm not in favor of Trump's personality, but I am in favor of what he's getting done.'
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
It's a year of rapid change, except when it comes to Trump's approval numbers, AP-NORC polling finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Hildenbrand has noticed prices continue to rise this year, even with President Donald Trump in the White House. He doesn't blame Trump, his choice for president in 2024, but says Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats who control his home state, California, are at fault. 'You can't compare California with the rest of the country,' said Hildenbrand, who is 76 and lives in San Diego. 'I don't know what's going on in the rest of the country. It seems like prices are dropping. Things are getting better, but I don't necessarily see it here.' Voters like Hildenbrand, whose support of the Republican president is unwavering, help explain Trump's polling numbers and how they have differed from other presidents' polling trajectory in significant ways. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in March found that 42% of U.S. adults approved of Trump's job performance. That is a lower rating than those of other recent presidents at the beginning of their second terms, including Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George W. Bush. The most recent AP-NORC poll, from July, puts Trump at 40% approval. While that is not a meaningful change from March, there is some evidence that Trump's support may be softening, at least on the margins. The July poll showed a slight decrease in approval of his handling of immigration since earlier in the year. Some other pollsters, such as Gallup, show a downward slide in overall approval since slightly earlier in his term, in January. But even those shifts are within a relatively narrow range, which is typical for Trump. The new AP-NORC polling tracker shows that Trump's favorability rating has remained largely steady since the end of his first term, with between 33% and 43% of U.S. adults saying they viewed him favorably across more than five years. Those long-term trends underscore that Trump has many steadfast opponents. But loyal supporters also help explain why views of the president are hard to change even as he pursues policies that most Americans do not support, using an approach that many find abrasive. An AP-NORC poll conducted in March 2017, two months into his first term, showed that 42% of Americans 'somewhat' or 'strongly' approved of his performance. That is largely where his approval rating stayed over the course of the next four years. The recent slippage on immigration is particularly significant because that issue was a major strength for Trump in the 2024 election. Earlier in his second term, it was also one of the few areas where he was outperforming his overall approval. In March, about half of U.S. adults approved of his handling of immigration. But the July AP-NORC poll found his approval on immigration at 43%, in line with his overall approval rating. Other recent polls show growing discontent with Trump's approach on immigration. A CNN/SSRS poll found that 55% of U.S. adults say the president has gone too far when it comes to deporting immigrants who are living in the United States illegally, an increase of 10 percentage points since February. 'I understand wanting to get rid of illegal immigrants, but the way that's being done is very aggressive,' said Donovan Baldwin, 18, of Asheboro, North Carolina, who did not vote in the 2024 election. 'And that's why people are protesting because it comes off as aggression. It's not right.' Ratings of Trump's handling of the economy, which were more positive during his first term, have been persistently negative in his second term. The July poll found that few Americans think Trump's policies have benefited them so far. Even if he is not a fan of everything Trump has done so far, Brian Nichols, 58, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is giving him the benefit of the doubt. Nichols, who voted for Trump in 2024, likes what he is seeing from the president overall, though he has his concerns both on style and substance, particularly Trump's social media presence and his on-again, off-again tariffs. Nichols also does not like the push to eliminate federal agencies such as the Education Department. Despite his occasional disagreements with Trump, though, Nichols said he wants to give the president space to do his job, and he trusts the House and Senate, now run by Republicans, to act as a safeguard. 'We put him into office for a reason, and we should be trusting that he's doing the job for the best of America,' Nichols said. Overall views of Trump have been fairly steady since 2019 Trump has spent the past six months pushing far-reaching and often unpopular policies. Earlier this year, Americans were bracing themselves for higher prices as a result of his approach to tariffs. The July poll found that most people think Trump's tax and spending bill will benefit the wealthy, while few think it will pay dividends for the middle class or people like them. Discomfort with individual policies may not translate into wholesale changes in views of Trump, though. Those have largely been constant through years of turmoil, with his favorability rating staying within a 10-percentage point range through the COVID-19 pandemic, a felony conviction and attempted assassination. To some of his supporters, the benefits of his presidency far outweigh the costs. Kim Schultz, 62, of Springhill, Florida said she is thrilled with just about everything Trump is doing as president, particularly his aggressive moves to deport anyone living in the country illegally. Even if Trump's tariffs eventually take effect and push prices up, she said she will not be alarmed. 'I've always had the opinion that if the tariffs are going to cost me a little bit more here and there, I don't have a problem with that,' she said. Across the country, Hildenbrand dislikes Trump's personality and his penchant for insults, including those directed at foreign leaders. But he thinks Trump is making things happen. 'More or less, to me, he's showing that he's on the right track,' he said. 'I'm not in favor of Trump's personality, but I am in favor of what he's getting done.' ___ Cooper reported from Phoenix.
