The former acting mayor of a Florida city was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a scheme with his jailed predecessor.
The Tampa Bay Times reported Thursday that 65-year-old Terrence Rowe was sentenced recently to two years probation and 50 hours of community service. Rowe, who was mayor of Port Richey, was also ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Rowe pleaded guilty in December to two felony charges after a March 3 phone call with jailed former Port Richey mayor Dale Massad. Authorities say the two discussed ways to intimidate a police officer who was investigating Massad's case.
Massad, 69, is jailed on attempted murder charges after he was accused of firing shots at a Pasco County Sheriff’s SWAT team trying to serve a warrant at his home Feb. 21. The raid was part of a state investigation into allegations that Massad, a former physician, was practicing medicine without a license.
Massad awaits trial on those charges. He previously was convicted by a jury for taking part in the intimidation scheme.
