Florida anti-squatting bill sponsor indicted on forgery charges

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Republican state representative from central Florida, the lead sponsor of an anti-squatting bill signed into law this year, has been indicted on criminal fraud charges related to her administration of a private Christian school that she helped run with her family.

Carolina Amesty, 29, turned herself in to authorities at the Orange County Jail on Thursday and was convicted of four felonies. That’s after a grand jury found Amesty forged a man’s signature on a document she authenticated in 2021 while working as an administrator at her family’s Central Christian Academy, according to State Attorney Andrew Bain. The alleged forgery occurred before Amesty was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.

Each of the charges are third-degree felonies, punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

The indictment of Amesty — who is currently running for re-election in her district west of Orlando — follows investigations by the Orlando Sentinel into Amesty’s background, financial practices and role at the family-run school.

Reached by phone, Amesty declined to answer questions from The Associated Press but pointed to a statement posted on social media platform X.

“This prosecution, initiated just weeks before the abandonment of absentee ballots, is based on misleading reports by a partisan newspaper about the legalization of an employee background check,” Amesty’s campaign statement said. “Representative. Amesty demands a speedy trial, looks forward to her day in court and is confident in her public vindication.”

First elected to the Florida House in 2022, Amesty presented herself as a successful businesswoman and staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, winning a competitive district representing parts of Orange and Osceola counties, including Walt Disney World.

This spring, Amnesty was a lead co-sponsor of House Bill 621, which made it easier for property owners to remove squatters from buildings, a move that could help reduce fires, insurance losses and rising premiums . She also helped sponsor HB 129, which would have allowed parents of deceased adult children to sue health care providers for negligence. The bill died in committee in March.

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 from membership.”

A spokesman for the Florida Speaker of the House did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

Kate Payne is a member of 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 undercover issues.

Photo: Rep. Carolina Amesty, center, smiled in March when DeSantis signed House Bill 621, which could help protect homeowners and their property from squatting. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File)

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