LAKE WALES, Fla. — A former Lake Wales city commissioner is sharing her story with Spectrum News after being acquitted of two felony charges filed in 2021 that resulted in Gov. Ron DeSantis removing her from office.

In late October, though, at the end of a two-day trial, a jury found Kris Fitzgerald not guilty of interference with custody of a minor and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

As a result of the original charges, DeSantis issued an executive order on July 7, 2021, that suspended Fitzgerald from office.

Now that the trial is over, she said she wants to tell her side of the story.

“This is the first time that I’m actually really speaking out about this,” said Fitzgerald. “The charges that were brought against me didn’t fit what occurred. That’s why the jury had no choice but to come back with a verdict of not guilty.” 

Shortly after news of her arrest surfaced, DeSantis removed Fitzgerald from her position and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, known for having zero tolerance of child abuse, announced that she had threatened a minor with a weapon.

“I can’t explain the feeling — it was terrible," Fitzgerald said. "I remember going out several months after these claims and hearing people’s whispers. And what people still don’t know is that all of this actually started with my daughter.” 

According to the June 3, 2021, charging affidavit, Fitzgerald was accused of picking up an 11-year-old boy without permission from his parents and threatening him with a gun over allegations that he touched her daughter inappropriately.

“I have known this relative since they were a baby," Fitzgerald said. "I watched this person grow up. I did say to leave my daughter alone but there was no kidnapping and there was no weapon involved."

In the end, the jury found that Fitzgerald didn't commit a crime.

“I felt like somebody actually listened and heard the evidence and came back with the correct verdict,” she said. “Not guilty on all charges. I remember looking at this one specific juror — it was the smile on her face and the nod. It was like she was saying, 'Go get your life back.'” 

Fitzgerald is eligible to run for city commissioner again, and while she says the interest is there, she hasn’t decided if she will. 

“My focus is on getting me and my daughter’s life back," she said. "That’s what’s most important right now."