Bunnell, FL - A former Bunnell police officer is heading back to prison less than three months after getting out. Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 34-year-old Michael Stavris on February 26, 2019, after he failed to meet conditions of his probation.
Stavris was a Flagler County courtroom today, where he was offered a plea deal by the Assistant State Attorney. The plea is for resolution of the Violation of Probation charge, as well as new charges for Felony Child Abuse, Fraud Through the Use of Personal Identification, and Stalking.
By accepting the deal, Stavris returns to prison for five years for the Violation of Probation (with credit for time served) and ten additional years on the new charges. The plea requires Stavris to complete five years of Sex Offender probation when he's released from prison. That includes no internet, social media, volunteer work around children, and no contact with his victims.
"We consider this resolution a success and I'm glad to see that Stavris will go back to prison for a long time," Sheriff Rick Staly said. This defendant has been preying on juveniles and women since 2011 and didn't learn his lesson even after spending nearly three years in prison the first time, so it's time to go back where he can't prey on children. This was a combined effort between the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Probation, the 7th Circuit State Attorney's Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement."
Stavris was charged with two counts of Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation and one count of Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information in 2014. Stavris made a plea deal and on July 26th, 2016, he was sentenced to three years in prison with five years of probation. His release came on February 11th, 2019.
