A jury on Thursday returned a verdict of not guilty on all seven counts in the trial of former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, after prosecutors rested their case, and in a surprise move, Daniels’ defense team also rested -- without calling any witnesses.

The jury in the trial of former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels heard more testimony Wednesday detailing his relationship with his now-former mistress through explicit text messages that were read aloud in court.

The trial of former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels is underway.

After opening statements and testimony from the first few witnesses Tuesday, it’s clear credibility will be an ongoing theme in the trial of former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels.

The trial of former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels has been postponed again.

The former Clay County Sheriff caught in the middle of a sex scandal with one of his subordinates is facing new criminal charges.

The trial for former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels has been delayed until next year.

Former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, who’s facing charges including tampering with evidence and giving false information to law enforcement, could go to trial in December.

A mound of evidence that will be used in the case against former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels was released Tuesday.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Court documents filed last week revealed that embattled former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels had senior staff solicit hefty campaign donations from members of the Sheriff’s Office as he ran for reelection last year. He also asked a Sheriff’s Office chief to help him fundraise within the department, according to the documents. Daniels then told Smith “I’m not leaving your side,” and said he would help her with her JSO case, documents show. She was taken to the sheriff’s office but released when senior staff refused to put her in jail. A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, Gov.

Daniels, 55, is charged with three misdemeanor counts of false statements to law enforcement and a felony count of evidence tampering, according to the latest charging documents. The charges stem from an investigation into Daniels’ relationship with Cierra Smith, his long-time mistress and a former corrections officer who was a subordinate of Daniels while he was chief of the Duval County jail. Daniels accused Smith of stalking him in May 2019 and authorities say he tried unsuccessfully to have her arrested. Court documents show investigators suspect Daniels tried to tamper with, hide or destroy data on his agency-issued cellphone that were related to the investigation. Daniels is also accused of lying to a deputy about his relationship with Smith and about his efforts to get an injunction against her.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Formal charges were filed Wednesday against former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, who was removed from office in August while under state investigation over an extramarital sex scandal. Daniels, 55, was defeated by Republican challenger Michelle Cook in the August primary following his arrest and subsequent suspension by Gov. The charges stem from an investigation into Daniels’ relationship with Cierra Smith, his long-time mistress and a former corrections officer who was a subordinate of Daniels while he was chief of the Duval County jail. Daniels accused Smith of stalking him in May 2019 and authorities say he tried unsuccessfully to have her arrested. Court documents show investigators suspect Daniels tried to tamper with, hide or destroy data on his agency-issued cellphone that were related to the investigation.

A woman at the center of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels said she never thought she would be involved in all of this. According to FDLE, Daniels sent harassing text messages to Armeshia Johnson and illegally used a law enforcement database to track down her personal information. She said she knew of her boyfriend’s past — that his ex-wife is Smith — and she knew Daniels’ name. At one point, Johnson said, Daniels sent her a Facebook message saying, “Happy birthday sexy booty.”“It caught me by surprise,” Johnson said. I know it’s me.”Johnson said Daniels also sent text messages, asking to meet up with her in Texas.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, Gov. He is prohibited from receiving any pay or allowance and from any privileges of public office during the suspension. RELATED: Making sense of the charges against Clay County Sheriff Darryl DanielsThe Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed an internal investigation last year into a corrections officer, Cierra Smith, who had been Daniels’ mistress while he was her supervisor. News4Jax on Friday spoke with Rep. John Rutherford, R-Florida, a former Jacksonville sheriff who worked with Daniels during his time at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. King noted in his letter: “I do not know Sheriff Daniels, his politics, his opponents, nor for that matter any citizen in Clay County.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, newly released court documents are shedding light on the allegations against him. Through his attorney and a video statement posted on social media Thursday, the sheriff has maintained his innocence. In the video clip, the sheriff questioned the timing of the criminal charges, calling it “very suspicious.”RELATED: Facing 4 charges, Sheriff Daniels turns himself in | Why bring charges during an election? While deputies placed Smith in handcuffs, no criminal charges were filed against her. RELATED: Sheriff Daniels accuses corrections officer of stalking him | Sheriff Daniels’ ex-lover: What I did was wrongAttorney Latoya Williams-Shelton, who represents Smith, said her client was licensed to carry a concealed firearm.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels turned himself in to authorities on Thursday after being given an ultimatum by a special prosecutor to either resign or be arrested. Sheriff Daniels was accused of abusing his power, involving a subordinate he was having a romantic relationship with. On May 6, 2019, Daniels filed a stalking report against Jacksonville corrections officer Cierra Smith -- accusing her of following him in her personal vehicle in the Oakleaf Plantation area. Smith filed a report with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, but would show up at a community event, following Daniels when he left. Though Sheriff Daniels wife walked by his side, hand-in-hand during an interview with News4Jax at the Jacksonville International Airport in May, his wife would file for divorce about two months later, at the end of July.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. Cierra Smith, the woman at the center of the official misconduct complaint against Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, is planning to sue the embattled lawman, according to her attorney. Daniels accused Smith of stalking him with a gun near his Oakleaf Plantation home in May 2019. Smith said she was 21-years-old when she began to have an affair with Daniels. As far as Im concerned, what he does in moving forward is his prerogative, she said Friday morning. The thought process is that if they are going to proceed with criminal charges, we are going to proceed civilly as well.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State Attorney Melissa Nelson is recusing herself from the investigation into Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels, who’s been under scrutiny from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for more than a year. A Clay County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told News4Jax Thursday afternoon that Daniels has no comment at this time. “I’m still committed to the job that we do in Clay County,” the sheriff said at the time. Daniels has been the subject of a state investigation into allegations of official misconduct since last year. At the time, an FDLE spokesperson acknowledged the state was initially provided information by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Daniels’ former employer, and had since received additional information.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. - The list of challengers for Clay County Sheriff continues to grow ahead of next years election. As incumbent Sheriff Darryl Daniels grapples with an ongoing FDLE investigation and a looming divorce, the fallout from an extra-marital sex scandal, three opponents have lined up to unseat him. He joins former county commissioner Harold Rutledge, one of Daniels rivals in 2016, and Ben Carroll. "I believe that Clay County deserves a sheriff who understands that personal and professional integrity are inseparable," Taylor told News4Jax in a phone interview Wednesday. "I just have a servants heart and I just want to serve the men and women of the Clay County Sheriffs Office so they can best serve the residents of Clay County," he said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two months after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels publicly apologized for the embarrassment caused by a cheating scandal, his wife filed for divorce. Prior to his 2016 election as sheriff of Clay County, Darryl Daniels worked for more than a decade at the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, working his way up to chief of the jail. News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney weighed in on that decision in light of Daniels' wife filing for divorce. WATCH: Political analyst weighs in on Clay County sheriff's decision to run for 2nd termSo far, Daniels has one opponent, Harold Rutledge, who has filed to run against him. We also contacted Sheriff Daniels for comment, but we are waiting for a response.

"We are concerned not only about the reputation of the Sheriff's Office, but also our safety," the person wrote. An FDLE spokesperson said the state was initially provided information by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and has since received additional information. In fact, the Saving Clay County Sheriffs Office page wrote ambiguously, Nope. News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney said social media pages are becoming increasingly common in local political discussions. "Whether its Facebook, it could be Twitter, Instagram, a blog, podcast -- whatever it may be, more and more turn to social media."

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Wednesday its review of Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels has become a formal investigation. "We are concerned not only about the reputation of the Sheriff's Office, but also our safety," the person wrote. The Sheriff's Office said it is aware of the letter, but will not comment on anonymous information. An FDLE spokesperson said the state was initially provided information by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and has since received additional information. In fact, the Saving Clay County Sheriffs Office page wrote ambiguously, Nope.