What to know about City Commissioner James Taylor, his arrest, Fort Pierce city reaction
Here's everything you need to know about Taylor, the arrest and the response from the city of Fort Pierce:
What is Taylor being charged with?
According to a Sheriff's Office news release, Taylor faces:
Six counts of transmission of materials harmful to minors by electronic equipment
Six counts of transfer or display of obscenity to a minor
Six counts of harmful communication to a minor and lewd computer solicitation
Four counts of lewd computer solicitation of a child
Two counts of solicitation of transmission of child pornography by electronic device or equipment
When did the investigation begin?
Investigations began in the midst of Taylor's campaign for election to the City Commission, according to the SLCSO news release. According to the news release, an unnamed police department in Illinois, which had been investigating a report from the mother of a then-13-year-old girl since August 2024, contacted SLCSO in May. On July 24, SLCSO executed search warrants at two locations that led to Taylor's arrest.
Taylor was arrested during a traffic stop, Sheriff Richard Del Toro said at a news conference.
According to the news release, the girl is now 14, and is believed to have been 12 at the time the alleged relationship with Taylor began.
When was James Taylor elected?
Taylor was elected to the Fort Pierce City Commission in 2024, receiving nearly 62% of the vote and defeating opponent John Heaning.
During his short time on the commission, Taylor has at times been a decisive swing vote, including in the decision to hire an outsider, Richard Chess, as city manager, rather than elevating City Clerk Linda Cox. The commission was split 2-2 on that decision, with Taylor eventually changing his vote from a third candidate to Chess. Taylor also led the successful push to oust former Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney. The search for her replacement is continuing.
Prior to his election, Taylor served nine years on the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Commission, including two years as its chair. He serves on multiple local boards, including the St. Lucie County Education Foundation.
Is James Taylor married?
Taylor is married.
Taylor and his wife, a former U.S. Forest Service staffer whose firing by the Department of Government Efficiency in February was reported by TCPalm, publicly announced July 4 that the couple was expecting the birth of their first child in January.
Taylor comes from a law enforcement family: His sister is the public affairs manager for the Fort Pierce Police Department, and his brother-in-law is a deputy with the the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, the agency that arrested him.
What are Fort Pierce officials saying about the arrest?
In a statement released July 24, Kaitlyn Ballard, city marketing and communications manager, said Fort Pierce is aware of Taylor's arrest.
"We understand that this development may raise concerns within our community, and we want to reassure our residents that we remain committed to serving the public with integrity, transparency, and accountability," Ballard wrote.
City functions will continue uninterrupted, Ballard added.
In a July 24 phone call, City Commissioner Michael Broderick said he and his fellow commissioners are waiting for more information.
"It's a very unfortunate set of circumstances. It's very unfortunate for the families involved. It's very unfortunate for the city of Fort Pierce," Broderick said. "We need to wait for the process to play itself out to find out all of the facts.'
More: City Commissioner arrested after alleged inappropriate relationship with teen girl
More: Lengthy document sheds light on reasons for arrest of Fort Pierce City Manager Nick Mimms
Mayor Linda Hudson, Commissioners Arnold Gaines and Curtis Johnson and City Manager Richard Chess did not respond to requests to comment. Ballard said the city would have no additional comment.
Can James Taylor be removed from the City Commission?
City commissioners cannot remove one of their own. However, the governor does have the power to suspend local elected officials.
The governor's communications office did not respond to requests to comment.
Another Fort Pierce arrest?
Taylor is the second high-level Fort Pierce official to be arrested within the last year.
Longtime City Manager Nick Mimms, whom Cox replaced on an acting basis before Chess' hiring, was arrested Aug. 14, 2024, on charges of bid rigging and official misconduct related to leading a bid process that ultimately was won by a nonprofit led by two city employees, one of whom was his niece. Mimms has pleaded not guilty.
Breaking news reporter Will Greenlee contributed to this report.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm's Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Commissioner James Taylor arrested, alleged of relationship with teen
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