By Staff Writer
A judge has dismissed the criminal perjury charge against former Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, his lawyer said Tuesday morning. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein emailed the decision to the prosecution and defense lawyers Tuesday morning, Runcie’s lawyer Mike Dutko said.
Reports state that records showed that Fein agreed with Dutko’s argument that the grand jury fell short of the power to indict Runcie.
Runcie, two years ago turn himself over to authorities on suspicion of lying to a state grand jury while giving testimony under oath between March 31 and April 1.
Runcie was alleged to have lied about conversations he had on March 29 with witnesses in a public corruption case, the state grand jury was looking into the 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The case concerned Anthony “Tony” Hunter, the BCPS former chief information officer. He was arrested on January 12, 2021, and accused of “rigging the process of awarding piggyback purchase contracts” to steer business to a friend.
Runcie resigned before his arraignment with a mutual separation agreement worth $754,900, despite having two more years left on his contract.
Upon his arrest, Runcie said that he is confident that he will be proven not guilty.
