Phoenix Construction owner James Finch wins federal case
James Finch is a former NASCAR team owner. Phoenix Racing fielded entries in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1990-2013.
Finch was arrested on March 18, 2021. He was charged with bribery.
This week, they held the trial for the federal case. The owner of Phoenix Construction was accused of paying bribes to Antonius Barnes for construction contracts in the city.
Barnes is the former Lynn Haven, Florida city commissioner. Finch paid him $45,000 in checks over the course of several years.
Finch claimed the money was sent as a business loan.
This case already went to trial once before. However, the first trial resulted in a hung jury.
Multiple city officials took plea deals. Finch himself was offered one as well but he refused to accept it and instead elected to fight the case in court.
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This week, the case returned to court. Barnes was not in attendance at the trail.
The jury declared Finch not guilty.
Judge Mark Walker noted that jurors could only use information that was presented in this trial. The jury later noted that Barnes not being in attendance as a major reason for their verdict.
Now, Finch has some scores to settle…
“I’ve got a few lawsuits to file,” Finch told MyPanhandle.
“I’ve got to prove that I was right and who was wrong. And there was some of them that have been wrong over here that have been totally wrong. That will come out starting tomorrow.”
As to why Finch elected not to take the plea deal.
“Because I wanted it to go in their ass. Because I wasn’t taking no plea deal for something I didn’t do.”
