Robert Burns of The Space Coast Rocket Pleads Guilty to Disorderly Conduct After 2023 Incident

STATE ATTORNEY: 'Defendant attempted to obstruct a lawful investigation by the Office of the State Attorney'

ABOVE VIDEO: Robert Burns of The Space Coast Rocket Pleads Guilty to Disorderly Conduct in Bond Revocation Hearing Set Friday at Moore Justice Center in Viera

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Robert Burns, owner of The Space Coast Rocket and a political operative, plead guilty at the Harry & Harriet Moore Justice Center in Viera on Friday to disorderly conduct (a lesser charge) for an incident that happened last year at Avis Rental Car office in Melbourne.

Burns plea deal includes that he must pay the court costs in the case and he must write an apology letter to the victim in the incident. Burns accepted the plea deal and must write an apology letter to the victim in 10 days and pay the court costs of $286 in 90 days.

In the case, State Attorney Phil Archer of the 18th Judicial Circuit initially filed charges against Burns last year following an incident on August 10 for tampering with a witness, a third-degree felony, misdemeanor battery and trespassing an occupied structure.

CLICK HERE OR SEE THE ARREST WARRANT BELOW

ABOVE VIDEO: The incident on August 10, 2023 involved Karen Colby, alone at her place of employment, and the video above shows Robert Burns entering the Avis Rental Car office in Melbourne, where he confronts Colby.

Colby is seen in the video asking Burns to leave multiple times, to which he refused. According to the probable cause statement, Colby said she began to call 911 on an Avis work phone and Burns “reached over the counter and hung up the phone.” The video then shows Colby calling 911 on her personal cell.

“Get your hand off my equipment,” Colby said in the video.

Burns later said in a statement he did not interfere with Colby making a 911 call, and around six minutes into the video, Colby told 911 dispatchers Burns was entering her back office.

“Oh my god he’s going into my office. Get the hell out of here! You better get out of here right now,” Colby said.

Burns admitted to confronting Colby in a post on his website and admitted to recording the incident and uploading it to his YouTube channel.

The police report said Colby ran in front of Burns and “demanded he leave and he finally left.”

The officer said contact was unable to be made with Burns at the time of the incident.

The incident led to the charges detailed below, which occurred in Brevard County.  However, Burns chose to turn himself in to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Jail where he was arrested. Burns was then released on $3,000 bond. State Attorney Phil Archer initially seeked that bond to be revoked for the reasons detailed above.

COUNT 1: TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS – UNDERLYING OFFENSE MISDEMEANOR (F3) 914.22(2)(a)
COUNT 2: TRESPASS IN STRUCTURE OR CONVEYANCE (HUMAN BEING PRESENT) (M1) 810.08(1)
COUNT 3: BATTERY (M1) 784.03

IN THE NAME AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, PHIL ARCHER, STATE ATTORNEY, THROUGH THE UNDERSIGNED DESIGNATED ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY, CHARGES THAT:

COUNT 1: IN THE COUNTY OF BREVARD, STATE OF FLORIDA, on August 10, 2023, ROBERT WILLIAM BURNS III, did knowingly intimidate, threaten, use physical force against, engage in misleading conduct towards or offer pecuniary gain to KAREN COLBY, or attempted to do so, with the intent to cause or induce KAREN COLBY to hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer or judge of information relating to the commission or possible commission of an offense or a violation of a condition of probation, parole, or release pending a judicial proceeding, contrary to Sections 914.22(1), 914.22(2)(a), Florida Statutes,

COUNT 2: IN THE COUNTY OF BREVARD, STATE OF FLORIDA, on August 10, 2023, ROBERT WILLIAM BURNS III, without being authorized, licensed, or invited, did willfully enter or remain in a structure or conveyance, to wit: OFFICE, the property of AVIS CAR RENTAL, or, having been authorized, licensed, or invited, was warned to depart by KAREN COLBY, the owner or lessee of the premises, or a person authorized by the owner or lessee, and refused to do so, and further, that at the time ROBERT WILLIAM BURNS trespassed, attempted to trespass, or was in the structure or conveyance, there was a human being, KAREN COLBY, in the said structure or conveyance, contrary to sections 810.08(1), 810.08(2)(b), Florida Statutes,

COUNT 3: IN THE COUNTY OF BREVARD, STATE OF FLORIDA, on August 10, 2023, ROBERT WILLIAM BURNS III did unlawfully commit battery upon a person identified as KAREN COLBY, by actually and intentionally touching or striking said person against said person’s will, or by intentionally causing bodily harm to said person, contrary to Section 784.03, Florida Statutes, AND against the peace and dignity of the State of Florida.

PREVIOUS RELATED STORIES

Robert Burns of The Space Coast Rocket Arrested By Feds, Judge Issues Conditions of Temporary Release From Prison

Burns will be in Brevard County court on Wednesday, April 24, where he faces assault and witness tampering charges, resulting from an incident in September 2023.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Robert Burns, owner of The Space Coast Rocket website and a political operative, was arrested on Tuesday, April 16, at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, on three counts of wire fraud.

Burns gave himself up to the federal authorities before his grand jury arraignment Tuesday afternoon in Orlando and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After being arrested, he was released by the court with a long list of conditions of release, which can be seen HERE, and below.

Penalties under federal law are often more severe than their state equivalents.  Federal prosecutors tout above a 95% conviction rate, which is primarily due to the fact that most cases never make it to trial.

In the nine-page indictment, which can be seen in its entirety below, federal prosecutors explain in detail how, beginning around April 1, 2021, Burns schemed to defraud and to obtain money and property from the Payroll Protection Program by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.

The federal Paycheck Protection Program was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist struggling small businesses keep their workers employed during the shutdown.

The Indictment states that Burns knowingly submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications to receive over $57,186 in Covid “CARES ACT” funds and used the funds for his  gambling and cryptocurrency purchases instead of using the funds for workers payroll.

The Federal prosecutors also state in the indictment that Burns filed false and fictitious federal income tax documents.

Upon conviction, Burns will face criminal penalties and be forced to forfeit to the United States government, any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the violation.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud committed during an announced national emergency, is up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Burns was in more legal hot water on Wednesday, April 17, where he was the subject of a hearing before a Florida judge and prosecuting attorney, who questioned him regarding his 64 counts of election law violations by the Florida Election Commission. At the end of the four-hour hearing, that judge stated that he will render his order in approximately 20 days.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA ELECTIONS COMMISSION VERSUS ROBERT BURNS 

ORDER SETTING CONDITIONS OF RELEASE:

WATCH HEARING REPLAY: Florida Elections Commission Charge Robert Burns With 64 Counts of Election Fraud

WATCH PART 3: The final hearing for Florida Elections Commission vs Robert Burns took place on Wednesday as Burns faces 64 counts of election fraud. 

WATCH PART 2: The final hearing for Florida Elections Commission vs Robert Burns took place on Wednesday as Burns faces 64 counts of election fraud. 

WATCH PART 1: The final hearing for Florida Elections Commission vs Robert Burns took place on Wednesday as Burns faces 64 counts of election fraud. 

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The final hearing for Florida Elections Commission vs Robert Burns took place on Wednesday as Burns faces 64 counts of election fraud.

Burns, who is the Space Coast Rocket editor-in-chief, was also recently indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, on three counts of wire fraud.

Here are the list of the charges as it pertains to Election Fraud filed by Florida Elections Commission:

Count 3: 

Burns was also recently indicted on three counts of wire fraud by a Federal Grand Jury in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.

In the Indictment handed down on April 10, the Grand Jury found that there is enough evidence and adequate legal basis to bring criminal charges against Burns.

Burns will now have to appear in court for his arraignment, at which time he will have to plead guilty, innocent or nolo contendere (accepts a conviction as though a guilty plea had been entered, but does not admit guilt).

Penalties under federal law are often more severe than their state equivalents.  Federal prosecutors tout above a 95% conviction rate, which is primarily due to the fact that most cases never make it to trial.

In the nine-page indictment, which can be seen HERE, federal prosecutors explain in detail how, beginning around April 1, 2021, Burns schemed to defraud and to obtain money and property from the “Payroll Protection Program” by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.

The Indictment states that Burns knowingly submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications to receive over $57,186 in Covid “CARES ACT” funds and used the funds for his  gambling and cryptocurrency purchases instead of using the funds for workers payroll.

The Federal prosecutors also state in the indictment that Burns filed false and fictitious federal income tax documents.

Upon conviction, Burns will face criminal penalties and be forced to forfeit to the United States government, any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the violation.

Robert Burns Indicted By Federal Grand Jury on Fraud Charges, prosecutors also say in the indictment that Burns filed false and fictitious federal income tax documents.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Robert William Burns, editor-in-chief of The Space Coast Rocket, has been indicted on three counts of wire fraud by a Federal Grand Jury in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.

In the Indictment handed down on April 10, the Grand Jury found that there is enough evidence and adequate legal basis to bring criminal charges against Burns.

Burns will now have to appear in court for his arraignment, at which time he will have to plead guilty, innocent or nolo contendere (accepts a conviction as though a guilty plea had been entered, but does not admit guilt).

Penalties under federal law are often more severe than their state equivalents.  Federal prosecutors tout above a 95% conviction rate, which is primarily due to the fact that most cases never make it to trial.

In the nine-page indictment, which can be seen in its entirety below, federal prosecutors explain in detail how, beginning around April 1, 2021, Burns schemed to defraud and to obtain money and property from the “Payroll Protection Program” by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises.

The Indictment states that Burns knowingly submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications to receive over $57,186 in Covid “CARES ACT” funds and used the funds for his  gambling and cryptocurrency purchases instead of using the funds for workers payroll.

The Federal prosecutors also state in the indictment that Burns filed false and fictitious federal income tax documents.

Upon conviction, Burns will face criminal penalties and be forced to forfeit to the United States government, any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the violation.

You can see the complete Indictment below:

 

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