City In Disbelief After Former Coral Springs Mayor Is Arrested,
Charged With Lewd & Lascivious Conduct On Minor
Published January 2008
By Nicol Jenkins
Editor
John Sommerer was known around the city of Coral Springs as an advocate
for residents’ rights and a family man.
Now, city officials and residents are in shock and changing their
opinion of the former Mayor of Coral Springs.
Coral Springs police arrested former Coral Springs Mayor John Sommerer
last week in connection with allegations of lewd and lascivious conduct
on a juvenile.
John P. Sommerer, 60, of Coral Springs was arrested and charged
with four counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, four counts of
Lewd and Lascivious Conduct and one count Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition.
He served as the Mayor of Coral Springs for about 10 years.
According to police reports, Sommerer was charged with allegations
of nine counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct during the time of October
16, 2006 to October 31, 2007. Those counts include, police reports
show, that Sommerer allegedly touched “on one or more occasion”
a child younger than 12 years old in the “genital area, buttocks,
and breast, or clothing covering these areas.”
Reports also state that Sommerer allegedly, “solicited a person
less than 16 years old to utilize a hose to spray water over his exposed
penis; solicited a person less than 16 to ride a motor scooter adjacent
to him and not to wear an undergarment to cover her genital area;
and solicit a person less than 16 to retrieve a balloon or balloon-like
object that he has positioned against his exposed genitalia while
he and the person were in a swimming pool.”
After arrested, Sommerer was transported to Broward County Jail and
is being held without bond.
City officials expressed disbelief that someone who served the community
for so long would be charged with such disturbing acts.
“We’re all shocked. It’s hard to believe,”
said Coral Springs Vice Mayor Vince Boccard. “He was respected
in the community and for this to happen, we’re all taken aback.
He continued, “He was away from serving the city for 5 years
so it is no reflection on the city. However, I feel sorry for the
family.”
|
