A former South Florida lawmaker has pleaded guilty to perjury as part of a plea deal that will keep her from serving any prison time.
Disgraced former state Rep. Daisy Baez pleaded guilty to the criminal charge Wednesday, according to the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office.
Prosecutors said Baez changed her voter registration address from 11 Malaga Ave. in Coral Gables to a condominium at 2401 Anderson Road in order to prove her residency in the legislative district for which she sought office.
The real owners of the Anderson Road condo told prosecutors that Baez asked if she could list their address as her residence because she was seeking state office.
Maritza Jacobson and her husband, Dr. Robert Jacobson, drafted a one-year lease agreement for Baez to stay at the condo for $700 per month, but Baez never moved into, or stayed, at the condo for a single night, and she never paid any rent.
State law requires candidates to live within the districts they represent.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Baez was forced to resign from her seat in the Florida House of Representatives. She tendered her resignation Nov. 1.
Baez was also sentenced to a year of probation, during which time she is prohibited from seeking public office.