Judge blocks discovery motion in disgraced sheriff Marcos Lopez case

The judge ruling on suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez‘s case has denied a motion to compel discovery as the proceedings continue.

On Thursday, February 5, a Florida judge denied a motion from the defense team of Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez to compel the prosecution to provide discovery in the illegal gambling case. Lopez is charged with using his influence as sheriff to collect more than $600,000 in unlawful payments while operating Eclipse Social Club, a now-closed illegal gaming room in Kissimmee where customers could use unlicensed slot machines and other illegal gambling devices. The investigation has already led to the sheriff’s suspension.

Although the judge denied the discovery motion, the defense and prosecution came to an agreement to have the statewide prosecutor’s office send a representative to the defense to access the evidence.

“It’s voluminous, the discovery,” defense attorney Migdalia told Click Orlando. “We may need to go there with terabytes and whatnot. It may be a full day that we’re there, I don’t really know, but that’s what’s going to happen. So we’re going to meet and hopefully we’ll get the rest of the discovery.”

As the court dates proceed, Migdalia emphasized that Lopez is keen for the case to continue and to have his moment in court, although “he understands that this may be a long process.”

Beyond former Osceola sheriff Marcos Lopez’s involvement

Lopez’s wife, Robin Severance Lopez, has already pleaded guilty to money laundering, earning a sentence of 24 months of probation. Another individual linked to the case, Krishna Deokaran, also pleaded guilty to money laundering after being accused of owning and operating several illegal casinos in Osceola and Lake counties. He now faces up to five years in prison, with his sentence still to be decided.

Deokaran is prepared to testify that he gave a tour of the Eclipse Social Club to the Lopez couple in 2022. He allegedly also later gave an envelope full of cash to Lopez in the parking lot of the sheriff’s office.

Prosecutors said Deokaran was prepared to testify that he gave a tour of the Eclipse Social Club to Marcos Lopez and his wife in 2022.

Later that year, Deokaran allegedly gave an envelope full of cash from the casino proceeds to Robin Severance Lopez in the parking lot of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office that was intended for her husband, court records show.

Featured image: Lake County Courts

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