1965 - 1966

Republican

Richard Stickley was a former South Bend, Indiana, cop who retired to El Jobean. In 1964, he ran for sheriff against Sheriff Travis Parnell. The vote from an influx of northerners allowed Stickley to become the first Republican to be elected sheriff in Charlotte County.

However, only 18 months after he took office, in July 1966, a Charlotte County Grand Jury "indicted" Stickley on 10 criminal charges. Many of the charges were either dropped or dismissed prior to the trial. Stickley was acquitted of the remaining charges during the trial. By the time he was cleared, however, his term as sheriff had expired.