ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – On Aug. 28, the Orange County grand jury indicted Florida Representative Carolina Amesty (District 45) for Forgery, Uttering a Forgery, False Acknowledgement or Certification by Notary Public and Notarizing Your Own Signature.

The criminal charges against Rep. Amesty are connected to evidence showing she knowingly notarized a document with a forged signature in 2021 while serving as an administrator at Central Christian Academy, a nonprofit school run by her family. All four charges for the misuse of her notary commission are classified as third-degree felonies under Florida Statute section 117.05.

In a statement, State Attorney Andrew Bain said, “A concerned citizen brought potential criminal wrongdoing to our attention, and in line with our obligation to investigate fairly and without bias, we requested a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation and thoroughly reviewed the facts and evidence of the case. That information was presented to the grand jury who found sufficient evidence to return an indictment. I am committed to upholding fairness and justice in every case by applying the law equally to everyone and my record reflects this dedication.”

On Aug. 29, Rep. Amesty turned herself in to the Orange County Jail. She will receive an appropriate bond amount in accordance with the law. The case will proceed through the judicial process. Please check the Orange County Clerk of Court’s website for the latest updates on court hearings.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.