State Rep. Amesty surrenders to Orange County Jail

Representative Carolina Amesty turned herself in to the Orange County Jail on Thursday afternoon for remand on a warrant for her arrest.

The Republican representative of the Florida House of Representatives is charged with four felonies: notarizing her own signature, forgery, forgery and false notarization.

According to our partners at the Orlando Sentinel, this followed an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into her and her family's nonprofit school, Central Christian University.

Spectrum News reached out to Amesty and her staff for comment but did not receive a response.

Amesty represents the 45th district of the Florida House of Representatives, which includes parts of Orange and Osceola counties, and is just finishing her first term. Amesty is running for re-election in November and will face former Disney executive Leonard Spencer in the general election.

The Sentinel reported that she was accused of notarizing a form that a man could not remember signing. Those allegations sparked an investigation announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis' office. Amesty resigned from her position as notary shortly thereafter.

The man in question was identified by the Sentinel as Robert Shaffer. He said he did not work at the school, but Amesty's campaign said he worked at the school under a university corporate umbrella.

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried responded to the booking by calling on Amesty to resign.

“No amnesty for Amesty,” posted Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party. “The Florida Republican Party continues to show us who they are. It's time for them to resign from office or be removed from office.”