Trial postponed for former Clay County sheriff

Clay County, FL — Darryl Daniels, former sheriff of Clay County, was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning for a final hearing before his trial begins.

But an issue with a witness postponed the trial until February.

Daniels, 56, is charged with evidence tampering and making a false report.

The charges stem from the cover-up of an affair he had with Cierra Smith, a former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office corrections officer who was Daniels’ subordinate when he worked for the JSO.

[RELATED: Darryl Daniels: Former Clay County sheriff officially charged with evidence tampering, false reports to law enforcement]

Both admitted to having a long-term relationship.

Action News Jax first reported in May 2019 when former Sheriff Daniels reportedly accused Smith of stalking him, then ordered his deputies to detain her. She was never arrested or charged.

[RELATED: New documents, recordings released in investigation into former Clay sheriff Darryl Daniels]

In December 2020, Daniels was slapped with criminal charges for allegedly lying about the stalking incident.

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