LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was scheduled to have a motion hearing on Wednesday, according to the Lake County clerk of courts website. But that hearing is now canceled.
A notice of cancellation appeared in court records Tuesday afternoon, saying the hearing was about a motion to reduce or modify Lopez’s bond.
Lopez remains jailed in Lake County after being arrested on June 5 on accusations of being part of a criminal gambling operation.
A judge on Friday set his bond at $1 million, but Lopez can’t pay it without proving the money does not come from criminal activity.
The sheriff, suspended by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shortly after his arrest, is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal cash payments as part of what prosecutors are calling an organized criminal enterprise.
[See News 6 reporting on Marcos Lopez arrest in gambling case]
[Watch News 6 coverage of Marcos Lopes being issued $1M bond]
Lopez became the first Hispanic sheriff in Florida when Osceola County voters elected him in 2021. He was re-elected in November.
DeSantis said he suspended Lopez in accordance with state law. The governor appointed Christopher A. Blackmon to take Lopez’s place while the case against him plays out.
[See video about Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Executive Director termination from agency]
On Monday, News 6 learned that Osceola County Sheriff’s Office terminated its executive director, days after Lopez’s arrest.
Nirva Rodriguez and a civilian employee were terminated, sheriff’s office confirmed.
Rodriguez claims her firing has nothing to do with the arrest of Lopez.