The State Attorney’s Office is reviewing fraud and larceny charges against a Cape Coral City Councilmember Eric Grill.
The SAO received the case report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. Spokeswoman Samantha Syoen said prosecutors will look over the evidence to see what is permissible in court, to validate what evidence exists and to compare the evidence to Florida law to determine whether a crime was committed.
“We will begin reviewing it and see if there’s evidence there to bring formal changes,” she said. “We will review it to determine if charges will be filed against him.”
Syoen said no charges had been filed against Grill as of Tuesday. She added that the charges brought forward by the LCSO are “just enough to arrest someone.”
The SAO has no set time frame for reviewing the case.
“We will review all the evidence given to us and make a decision,” she said.
A Jan. 19 arraignment date has been set for Grill. According to Syoen, if the SAO is still reviewing the case against him at that time, Grill’s arraignment date will be pushed back.
Lee Hollander, a Naples-based attorney representing Grill, said during a recent telephone interview that his client plans on entering a not guilty plea.
The LCSO arrested Grill on Dec. 15 on charges of stealing more than $65,000 from clients of his business, Grand Cape Construction. He faces one count of fraud/swindle/obtain property $50,000 or more, one count of grand theft larceny of $20,000 or more but less than $100,000 and one count of grand theft larceny of $10,000 or more but less than $20,000.
All three are felony counts, according to a LCSO arrest report.