The Baker County Sheriff's Office
Published on May 21, 2025 at 11:27 am
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Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed an executive order that indicates an investigation into the Baker County Sheriff’s Office is continuing.
The executive order did not provide details about the investigation.
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DeSantis extended the assignment of Melissa Nelson, state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit, to work on the case with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Nelson is state attorney in Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, but DeSantis appointed her to the Baker County investigation in June 2024.
That appointment said Brian Kramer, the state attorney in the 8th Judicial Circuit, which includes Baker County, disqualified himself because he had publicly endorsed Baker County Sheriff Scotty Rhoden in an election campaign.
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Monday’s executive order said Nelson has advised DeSantis that “the duties required by the previous (June 2024) executive assignment have not yet been completed as the case is still pending” and that an “extension of this assignment is necessary in order to complete the assigned duties.”
DeSantis approved an extension until June 4, 2026.
