VERO BEACH — Long-time trial attorney Charles Sullivan Sr. appeared Friday morning before Judge Joe Wild to face a felony sexual battery charge and, despite arguments about long-standing ties to Vero and low flight risk, Wild set a substantial $25,000 bond for Sullivan’s freedom while awaiting trial.
Sullivan posted bond at 10:06 a.m. and, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, has been released. According to court documents, Sullivan has been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim, a female employee at his law office.
Going forward, Sullivan’s case will be heard in Brevard County to avoid any potential conflict or appearance of conflict in the prosecution of this prominent local attorney with an extensive network of colleagues, current and former business partners and, potentially even enemies made over nearly six decades of practicing law.
“I’ve been a lawyer for 58 years, I’ve lived here all my adult life,” Sullivan said prior to the bond being set. “I own property here and pay substantial taxes.”
After the court proceedings, State Attorney Bruce Colton’s office confirmed that Sullivan’s case has been accepted by the Brevard County 18th Judicial Circuit for prosecution. Colton on Thursday had sent a request to Gov. Rick Scott saying that his office had an apparent conflict with handling Sullivan’s case. Colton asked that the case be transferred to another jurisdiction.
Sullivan, who appeared last in the day’s batch of defendants arrested yesterday and overnight, had a total of four defense attorneys sitting on his side of the courtroom, plus the entire front row of the gallery filled with family and friends there to support the 82-year-old.
Former State Attorney Bob Stone took the lead and spoke on Sullivan’s behalf, while Andy Metcalf appeared as second-chair counsel.
Stone said his client denies all the allegations in the arrest warrant obtained by police. Stone pointed out Sullivan’s advanced age, his stability in the community and said he is “definitely no risk of flight.”
In the corridor outside Wild’s courtroom, Metcalf underscored his client’s claim of innocence and said, “This man is a pillar of the community. I’ve known him all my life.”
Metcalf said Sullivan’s lawyers have begun conducting their own investigation into the allegations, “And it’s certainly going to be more thorough than the one afforded to him by the police department.”
Sullivan’s son and law partner Chuck Sullivan, and Bobby Guttridge also sat in the defense attorneys’ area. Chuck Sullivan was interviewed as part of the Vero Beach Police Department investigation, and Guttridge cautioned that, “I’m a potential witness,” as he shares law office space with the senior and junior Sullivans — the office where police say the alleged crime occurred on June 12.
A female employee of Sullivan’s law firm reported to police that she was the victim of a sexual assault which followed months of unwanted sexual comments and advances during hear nearly one-year employment with Sullivan.
Colton in his letter to Gov. Scott, in explaining the conflict in this case, cited not only Sullivan’s long history as a trial attorney and the interaction of Sullivan Sr., of Chuck Sullivan and of Guttridge with his prosecutors, but also that “the victim in this case is a former employee of the State Attorney’s Office.”
The victim is not named in the complaint documents, but is only referred to by her initials.
Assistant State Attorney Bill Long was initially assigned Sullivan’s case to prosecute. Wild told Sullivan his next court date would be an arraignment set for 9 a.m. Aug. 10, but that schedule may change as the case is shifted to Brevard County.