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Appeal Denied to
Florida Politician Convicted of Soliciting Gay Sex

Appeal Denied to
Florida Politician Convicted of Soliciting Gay Sex

The political career of Florida state representative Bob Allen came to a crashing halt in July 2007 when he was arrested for soliciting sex -- specifically offering a police officer $20 to perform oral sex on him -- in a restroom at a Titusville park.

The political career of Florida state representative Bob Allen came to a crashing halt in July 2007 when he was arrested for soliciting sex -- specifically offering a police officer $20 to perform oral sex on him -- in a restroom at a Titusville park. After trying to reverse a conviction on solicitation of sex, the disgraced Republican was just handed another defeat this week, when his latest appeal was denied without hearing or comment by an appeals court, reports FloridaToday.com.

According to police, after offering fellatio to the undercover officer last year, Allen suggested the two do their business somewhere less public. After being convicted of soliciting sex, Allen argued that he thought the undercover cop was going to rob him and that the whole exchange was an attempt to avoid being mugged. A jury didn't buy it, and Allen was sentenced to six months' probation, a $250 fine, and other court and restitution costs in November 2007 (though the sentence was delayed pending the outcome of the appeal). He resigned from the Florida legislature the next day.

Declaring his innocence, Allen appealed his case in July 2008; a panel of Brevard County circuit court judges denied the appeal. Allen filed a motion for a rehearing of the case, and that motion was denied. This week Florida's fifth district court of appeal denied the appeal. Allen's attorney has argued that his client is being charged under the wrong statute and that the undercover officer, not Allen, suggested "sex for money." But the prosecutor argued that the statute under which Allen was charged also prohibits luring people into prostitution.

According to FloridaToday.com, it's not clear whether Allen, who served seven years in the state legislature, will ask the Florida supreme court for a hearing. (Neal Broverman, Advocate.com)

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