Ex-IT director for Clay County Clerk of Court pleads guilty

Clay County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Michael Hamilton.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The former IT director for the Clay County Clerk of Court has pleaded guilty to schemes to defraud.

Michael Hamilton was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by five years of probation, and ordered to pay restitution.

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The charge represented more than 80 confirmed cases against Hamilton, who deputies said stole and pawned several dozen pieces of computer or electronic equipment.

Hamilton was originally arrested on Dec. 20 after the inventory control process at the Clerk of Courts office brought the missing items to the attention of supervisors, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Hamilton, who was out of jail on a $45,000 bond, was found and arrested in January on schemes to defraud charge.

Detectives working with Clerk of Court Tara Green and her staff estimate that 60 percent of the stolen or pawned items have been recovered. Detectives estimated that about $15,000 in equipment was still missing, but efforts remain underway to recover it, deputies said.