Former UCF Student Government Association President and former Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority board member Marco Pena has pleaded guilty to violating Florida’s open meetings law.
Marco Pena did not appear in court on Wednesday, but his attorney entered the plea on his behalf to a misdemeanor count of violating Florida’s Sunshine Law. Pena is avoiding jail time and probation, but will have to pay a $500 fine.
State attorney’s office Executive Director Richard Wallsh declined to provide details of Pena’s exact violations citing an ongoing grand jury on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. He also did not say if Pena would testify before the grand jury.
“I can’t tell you whether he is or not,” Wallsh told the Associated Press. “Primarily because of grand jury secrecy, but also because I truly do not know … If the grand jury would like to hear from him, he will be available.”
Pena, who was appointed to the board last year by Gov. Rick Scott, resigned from his position last month shortly after fellow board member Scott Batterson was indicted on multiple felony counts.
Pena cited a family illness and that the Expressway Authority could be transformed into a regional agency as his reasons for resigning.
