Former GOP Candidate In FL Gets Probation For Lying About Diploma

Students are seen during the graduation ceremony of the Technical and Agricultural University in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 28 January, 2017. UTP University of Science and Technology (Uniwersytet Technologiczno - Przyrodniczy – the UTP) in Bydgoszcz has a 60 year-long tradition going back to 1951, when the first school of higher education in Bydgoszcz was created - the Evening School of Engineering. Early in its history, it educated chemical and mechanical engineers.(Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto)
Students are seen during the graduation ceremony of the Technical and Agricultural University in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 28 January, 2017. UTP University of Science and Technology (Uniwersytet Technologiczno - Przyrodni... Students are seen during the graduation ceremony of the Technical and Agricultural University in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 28 January, 2017. UTP University of Science and Technology (Uniwersytet Technologiczno - Przyrodniczy the UTP) in Bydgoszcz has a 60 year-long tradition going back to 1951, when the first school of higher education in Bydgoszcz was created - the Evening School of Engineering. Early in its history, it educated chemical and mechanical engineers. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — A former Republican candidate for the Florida Legislature will avoid prosecution for falsely claiming she had a college degree if she serves 90 days of probation and completes 25 hours of community service.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports that Melissa Howard signed a deferred prosecution agreement Friday. The agreement means Howard won’t be formally charged with a crime. She had faced a misdemeanor count of misrepresenting her academic standing at a university.

In the weeks before last month’s primary election, Howard posted a photo of herself with what looked like a Miami University diploma. The Ohio school later sent reporters a statement saying she attended the school but never graduated.

Howard eventually admitted she didn’t graduate from the school and dropped out of the race.

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Information from: Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune, http://www.heraldtribune.com

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  1. Avatar for jinnj jinnj says:

    They should have offered her the option of going back and completing her degree with in one year since she contended that she had been “really really close” to finishing … suspect it would have gotten super awkward - suspect that - in total truth - it would take her more like two years + to fulfill all of the requirements with a GPA eligible for graduation

  2. Oh that one was a piece of work.
    This is what Trump has done to the party.
    Removed Shame
    She had every intention of continuing her campaign because she thought it didn’t matter that she was a lying piece of shit.
    She thought the ® and blond hair gave her immunity like her Trump bribe taking pal Pam Bondi

  3. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    She “only” falsely claimed to have a college degree, whereas Trump falsely claimed to have an actual college! If you’re not cheating or lying or raping someone, you’re not a Republican.

  4. She had an older woman – I presume her mom – pose with her and the fake diploma. I’ll bet my lunch money she was lying about it to her family, too.

  5. You must be too young. The Dixiecrat GOP lost the normal human capacity to feel embarrassment and shame during the Flim Flam Reagan Years.

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