PERJURY CHARGE AGAINST DEPUTY DROPPED

Prosecutors cite the loss of 2 witnesses. The Orange cop says he did
nothing wrong in the drug case.

The State Attorney's Office decided Friday not to pursue a perjury
charge against an Orange County deputy sheriff accused of lying to a
jury in a drug case.

Kevin Carter, 46, was arrested in May because he told a jury in
January 2005 that an anonymous stranger at a bus stop tipped him off
to drug-dealing behind a Pine Hills liquor store. A sheriff's
investigation determined that the tipster was actually a suspected
prostitute Carter threatened with arrest if she failed to cooperate.

Prosecutors decided to take the case off the docket because two key
witnesses disappeared, said Randy Means, executive director of the
Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office. If the witnesses in Carter's
case surface, his office may file charges again.

Carter is one of three former undercover drug-squad members arrested
on perjury charges. The cases against deputies Jeffrey Lane and
Nicholas Ortiz are ongoing.

Friday's decision brought relief to Carter, who wants to return to his
post at the Sheriff's Office on the fugitive squad.

"I have to go back. It's principle. It's a name thing," Carter
said.

"This has been a long battle, when you know you're right and you know
you've done nothing wrong," he said.

Carter would not discuss details of the case on the advice of his
attorney. He is on unpaid leave from the Sheriff's Office and is
supporting himself with military benefits.

Sheriff's officials have not received official notice of the decision
by the State Attorney's Office and do not know whether they will allow
Carter to return to work, spokesman Capt. Mark Strobridge said.

An internal investigation has not been completed.