Former Marion County sheriff Chris Blair has resigned from office of the sheriff and has withdrawn from the upcoming sheriff’s election, according to a news release from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Blair was in court earlier this year and entered a not guilty plea on perjury charges, but Friday, the State Attorney's Office announced a plea agreement for Blair.
Blair was removed from office after he was accused of lying about the use of excessive force by his deputies.
Video showed Blair looking at convict Dustin Heathman as Heathman is being led into a sheriff's vehicle with visible facial injuries.
Heathman said the injuries were caused by deputies beating him after he was in custody, and that he did not resist.
But records showed Blair told a grand jury he did not see Heathman's face.
The report released Friday said that “the past 3 1/2 years have been very difficult for many in this community and for most of the employees at the sheriff’s office.”
“Today, we come to a time when the healing that my staff and I started on May 20 may continue unimpeded by the distraction of the former sheriff's involvement in the upcoming August primary,” said Marion County Sheriff Emery Gainey.
Gainey said he supports the plea agreement.
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