Seminole’s Newest 'Giglio Cop' at Center of Prosecutorial Shake-Up?
Prosecutor fulfilled ethical duties; questions remain about institutional support.
As a follow-up to our earlier report announcing the resignation of 1st Assistant District Attorney Candace Irby, additional information has come to light that places her departure in a new — and potentially troubling — context.
While it remains unconfirmed whether Irby's resignation was directly tied to her disclosure of impeachment evidence against a Seminole County Sheriff's Office investigator, it is notable that her resignation occurred less than ten days after that disclosure was made.
Prosecutors are constitutionally required to provide defendants with any information that may be used to challenge the credibility of a government witness, per Giglio v. United States. In accordance with these obligations, Ms. Irby disclosed that Sheriff Investigator Christopher Perteet, Sr. had been terminated from the District 22 District Attorney’s Office in January 2024. The grounds for termination were serious: theft of controlled dangerous substances (CDS) evidence, mishandling of CDS evidence, illegal drug use, and providing inconsistent statements about illegal drug use.
Because these issues bear directly on Perteet’s credibility, prosecutors must disclose his history to defense counsel in ALL cases where he is or was endorsed as a government witness. Irby’s disclosure was both legally mandated and ethically sound under constitutional standards.
At this time, it remains unknown whether Investigator Perteet continues to be employed by Sheriff Anthony Louie. Given the gravity of the misconduct and the fact that Perteet's termination was formalized in January 2024, it is reasonable to believe that Sheriff Louie, who took office in 2023 after former Sheriff Shannon Smith resigned under a deferred prosecution agreement, was or should have been aware of Perteet’s history.
Questions are now mounting not only about the handling of Perteet’s employment status but also about where District Attorney Erik Johnson stands on these matters. As of publication, District Attorney leadership has made no public statement supporting Irby’s decision to disclose the Giglio material — a silence that some observers interpret as tacit disapproval. Whether that silence reflects institutional discomfort with the fallout from the disclosure, or an unwillingness to confront misconduct within allied law enforcement agencies, remains unclear.
What is clear is that Ms. Candace Irby fulfilled her constitutional duty — and her resignation so soon after doing so raises serious concerns about the internal pressures faced by prosecutors who choose to prioritize their constitutional obligations over blue line cult politics.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.