TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican state representative in central Florida has been charged with forgery in connection with her administration of a private Christian school she helped run with her family.
Carolina Amesty, 29, turned herself in to authorities Thursday at the Orange County Jail and was arrested on four felony charges. That’s after a grand jury found that Amesty forged a man’s signature on a document she notarized in 2021 while working as an administrator at her family’s Central Christian Academy, District Attorney Andrew Bain said. The alleged forgery occurred before Amesty was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.
Each of the charges is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The charges against Amesty, who is currently seeking re-election in her district west of Orlando, follow investigations by the Orlando Sentinel into Amesty’s background, financial practices and role in her family-run school.
Amesty declined to answer questions from the Associated Press news agency by telephone, but referred to a statement on the social media platform X.
“This prosecution, brought just weeks before the repeal of mail-in ballots, is based on misleading reports by a biased newspaper about a notarized employee’s background report,” Amesty’s campaign statement said. “Rep. Amesty calls for a speedy trial, looks forward to her day in court, and is confident of her public exoneration.”
Amesty was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2022, calling herself a successful businesswoman and avid supporter of former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. She won a competitive district representing parts of Orange and Osceola counties, including Walt Disney World.
Following the indictment, the Florida Democratic Party called on Amesty to resign.
“Carolina Amesty cannot effectively represent the people of House District 45 while defending herself against felony charges,” said party chairwoman Nikki Fried. “She should resign immediately, and if she refuses to take responsibility for her actions, we demand that the Florida House of Representatives expel her.”
A spokesman for the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
