Ex-State Senator Denies Wrongdoing on County Property Deals

Pensacola is 250 miles north of Downtown Orlando. The Childers name has been synonymous with statewide political wheeling-dealing scenarios for the past 30 years. He is chairman of the Escambia County Commission.

Childers, couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline. But Pensacola area brokers tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity Childers is confident the grand jury probe will not be able to tie him in to either the county's $3.2 million purchase ($81,250 per acre; $1.87 per sf) of a 48-acre soccer field/stadium or to the $2.3 million purchase of a former auto dealership property for eventual use as an office building or vehicle parking area for the Escambia County Sheriff's Department.

Willie Junior, a county commissioner for 18 years, urged the county to do the deals with Pensacola developer Joe Elliott, a casual acquaintance of Childers, according to published reports that Junior has not denied. He maintains the deals were in the county's best interests.

Junior, too, is part of the grand jury probe, law enforcement officials in Pensacola confirm to GlobeSt.com. The March 25 sealed indictments have not yet been made public. State Attorney Curtis Golden won't discuss the probe until the indictments are opened.

Elliott earned a commission of $562,000 on the soccer field deal and $172,000 on the dealership transaction, according to published reports which he, too, has not disputed. Also not disputed by Childers is his series of loans totaling $90,000 to Junior, a funeral home operator by profession.

What connections Childers' loans to Junior had with the two property deals are at the heart of the grand jury investigation, law enforcement officials confirm. They also tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity, "There may be no connection at all."

But in the latest twist, Pensacola real estate investor Joseph Edward Webb, a Childer's friend, was arrested and charged with hindering the investigation by offering to get county commissioners to approve a pay raise for Sheriff Ron McNesby's deputies.

In exchange, Webb allegedly asked McNesby to help defuse the investigation, according to published reports which McNesby doesn't dispute. He also didn't accept the offer. Webb wouldn't comment. And Childers and Junior say they know nothing of the Webb incident.