Childers' lawyers are appealing the six person-jury verdict to the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, FL. The year-old case has generated headlines for months and stirred controversy in real estate, political and legal circles in North Florida. Childers is a lifetime Republican Party supporter and suspended chairman of the Escambia County board of commissioners.

The 69-year-old Childers testified the $90,000 in alleged bribe money he made to fellow commissioner Willie Junior in 2001 was actually several personal loans to Junior on his financially failing funeral home.

State prosecutors, however, argue the money was a direct bribe to Junior for his vote on $6.2 million in two land deals the county did with Pensacola, FL developer Joe Elliott. Elliott earned a $562,000 commission on the soccer field deal and a $172,000 commission on the auto dealership property. He has been charged with racketeering, bribery and money laundering.