TRENTON - After a months-long legal battle, residents in Gilchrist County now know who their next sheriff will be: Robert "Bobby" Schultz. 

 

Robert Roux Jr., Schultz's opponent last November, filed suit after the election, alleging that Schultz was not a legal resident of the county. But in court on Thursday, a circuit court judge disagreed, citing a previous court case that was overturned because it was filed after the election took place.

 

"We're happy to get this behind us, and I'm just ready to do what I was elected to do," said Sheriff Robert Schultz. "That's to provide service, and to serve and protect the good citizens of this county," he said.

 

"This decision was made on the basis of erroneous precedent," said John Winkler, the attorney for Roux. "We have every intention of filing an appeal," said Winkler.

 

After winning November's election, Schultz was originally set to be sworn in as sheriff on Tuesday, January 8. But after the previous sheriff, Daniel Slaughter, decided to retire early, Schultz was sworn in at the beginning of this year.