Jefferson clerk suspended after arrest

NSF Staff Report

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order suspending Jefferson County Clerk of Courts Kirk Reams, who was arrested on felony charges involving improper use of county money. 

Reams, 46, and two other men were accused of defrauding Jefferson County out of more than $800,000, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 

The FDLE began investigating in 2021 after receiving reports of alleged crimes. The news release said the allegations involved such things as Reams using a county purchasing card to pay for travel expenses not related to his office, misappropriating funds from a county bank account and being involved in a kickback scheme.

Reams was arrested last Wednesday on charges of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, according to information filed by State Attorney Jack Campbell. 

Also charged were Warren “Charles” Culp Jr., who was a financial consultant to the clerk of court, and Justin “Tyler” McNeill, a former deputy clerk of courts, according to the FDLE news release.