Boca Raton Murder Case Under Scrutiny. Why Is Police Department Invoking Privacy Law? Why Is Palm Beach County Jail Hiding Booking Photo?
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — There is no record of Boca Raton Murder Suspect Brandon Labiner ever holding a position as a United States Attorney, A Federal Judge, or a Federal Magistrate Judge. But in a document obtained by BocaNewsNow.com Labiner, 34, told the Palm Beach County Jail that he held one of those positions, and was entitled to his mugshot being withheld after he was booked Sunday for killing his father.
Public records suggest that Labiner lied. Information obtained by BocaNewsNow.com indicates Labiner was never more than a “certified legal intern” for several months in the office of the Broward County State Attorney. He never, according to records reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, held a federal job that qualifies for exemption from Florida’s public records law. However, neither the Palm Beach County Jail, nor the Boca Raton Police Department, apparently investigated his claims of exemption and have withheld both the booking photo and other elements of the case. Labiner is currently “not eligible to practice law in Florida,” according to the Florida Bar.
As of early Tuesday morning, the Palm Beach County Jail is still reporting that Labiner’s booking photo is being held in compliance with an exemption from Florida Statute 119. The Sheriff’s Office provided a form that appears to be inaccurately completed. Labiner’s attorney, Val Rodriquez, did not respond to a request for information. Sources say he instructed his client to complete the exemption form.
Separately, sources within the South Florida law enforcement and prosecutorial community say that Boca Raton Police Chief Michele Miuccio overstepped by ordering the names of suspect Brandon Labiner, and victim Paul Labiner, to be withheld under Florida’s “Marsy’s Law.” Ironically, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office — which oversees the jail but is a separate law enforcement agency — complied with Florida law by releasing Brandon Labiner’s name and the murder charge Boca PD filed against him.
However, multiple sources tell BocaNewsNow.com that Boca Raton Chief Miuccio attempted to suppress that information. Miuccio, who routinely refuses to speak with the news media, is also accused of attempting to suppress the names of the suspect and victim in a murder-suicide that occurred in the City of Boca Raton last year. Sources provided BocaNewsNow.com with that information and questioned Miuccio’s motives for withholding public safety information. Miuccio also attempted to withhold information concerning a police-involved shooting — information the State of Florida ultimately released. She is currently under fire for her handling of an alleged police misconduct claim involving the police department involving an officer caught on camera pulling a pregnant woman from her car.
Andrew Colton hosts South Florida’s First News weekdays, from 6-10 a.m., on NewsRadio 610 WIOD Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Simulcast on 105.9HD2 and streaming in the iHeart Radio App.
