FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. -- Flagler County Sheriff Donald Fleming gave up his membership at the Club at Hammock Beach Friday after the State Commission on Ethics reached its conclusion that his membership at the club should have been reported to the commission as a gift, according Public Information Officer Barbra Johnson with the sheriff's office.

The state commission also concluded that Fleming has also received discounted prices on meals that also should have been reported as a gift.

"Although the Ethics Commission concluded that the honorary membership should be been reported, until their investigation was completed, I did not know the honorary membership was valued at more than $100," said Sheriff Fleming.

When Fleming accepted the membership, it was his understanding that he would pay for meals, he explained. He did not use any other facilities at the resort, other than the dining room.

"Once I learned that the meals had been discounted and that the membership could be considered a gift under the ethics laws; I reimbursed the resort for the full amount of the discounts and resigned my membership," Fleming said.

"Any violation was inadvertent and I intend to cooperate with the commission to get this matter resolved," he said.

First Coast News