Fed Move to Dismiss Charges against Segree

Federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss all charges against Bonnie Segree, former director of the Franklin County literacy program, in a case involving her alleged theft of grant funds.

In a July 1 dismissal motion filed before District Judge Richard Smoak, Thomas Kirwin, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said details that emerged at last month's two-day trial of Segree's co-defendant made it difficult to prove the case.

Segree testified in the June 16 and 17 trial of Patricia Walker McGill, former director of the Institute on Urban Policy and Commerce at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, who oversaw the educational literacy grants provided to Franklin and five neighboring counties.

On the third day of her trial in Panama City, McGill pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft from federal programs and seven counts of theft from federal programs relating to educational grants.

During the first two days of trial, a jury heard testimony from 21 witnesses and received 255 exhibits in evidence.

"Exculpatory information provided by witnesses during the course of the government's preparation for the trial of (McGill) has raised questions concerning the government's ability to prove Segree possessed the intent to commit the offenses alleged in the indictment," wrote Kirwin in his dismissal motion.

Segree, charged with eight counts relating to the fraudulent use of literacy grant funds earmarked for Franklin County, could have faced a maximum term of 140 years' imprisonment, and $2 million in fines.