Together we can make a difference and reach our goal!
Together we can make a difference and reach our goal!
Together we can make a difference and reach our goal!
Together we can make a difference and reach our goal!
My name is William Scheiner and I, along with my two girls, am excited to announce my candidacy for Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit Brevard and Seminole Counties. I was born in Central Florida and at a young age my parents moved our family to Brevard County. I am the proud son of two hard working parents who did what they had to do to raise us. We were raised to be kind and compassionate, loyal and hard working. I am the middle of 3 boys, and my brothers play a big role in who I am today. I have remained tied to Brevard County and Central Florida. Brevard has been home for me and my family or over 25 years. I married my late wife Yvonne in 2007 and Brevard is the place we wanted to raise our family. We had our first daughter in 2010 and second in 2012. My girls are my rock and inspiration. They are the strongest people I know.
I attended grade school at St Teresa Catholic School and high-school at Titusville High, both in Titusville. I received my undergraduate degree from UCF in legal studies in May of 2005 and Law Degree from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville Florida in December of 2007. After law school I moved back to Brevard County to start a family and pursue a career as a prosecutor. I was hired in October of 2008 by then State Attorney Norman Wolfinger. I have been proudly serving the people of Brevard since that date. I am a member of the Florida Bar, Brevard County Bar Association, Brevard County Commission on Aging, Brevard County Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Brevard Republican Executive Committee.
Being a prosecutor is a privilege and honor and it comes with great responsibility. It is a profession that I take seriously and am passionate about. It is one that comes with power and consequences in decisions that are made. Decisions that should not be made out of reflex or pressure, ill will or motive, or without thought and care of those consequences. A profession that requires compassion, integrity and a desire to ALWAYS do the right thing. A prosecutor must always be prepared and diligent. To do otherwise would be a miscarriage of justice and a disservice to the community we serve.
My path to becoming a prosecutor is certainly not a traditional one. In the winter of 2001, I was the victim of a violent gun crime in Brevard County. I was held at gun point, kidnapped, robbed and ultimately shot. The case was investigated by Brevard law enforcement agencies and prosecuted by the Brevard State Attorney’s office.
I will never forget the events of that evening. I was leaving work for the evening like I had so many times before. But this night would be different, while attempting to get in my car I was approached by a man in a mask with a gun who asked for my money. I gave it to him. That wasn’t enough. I was told to get in car or I would be shot. So I got in and attempted to close the door but he grabbed it and held it open. I was told at gun point to slide over, I tried to reason with him but he forced me to slide over to the passenger seat. He sat in the driver’s seat next to me. I processed what was said to me, would he really kill me? I needed to find a way to respond. I looked for an out and began planning what I would do to get out of the car and away from him. It was then that the police, who had received a tip of the robbery, arrived guns drawn badges displayed and shouting commands. I was saved, I was going to be okay. But it wasn’t over. My assailant did not give up willingly, he resisted. Violently. My car was surrounded by police; I was in it with the robber. The police, with guns drawn, attempted to remove him from the car. He pushed the officer’s hand off his head and then reached for his lap where he had one firearm. He was also reaching behind his back to his waist band where he had another firearm. My assailant raised his hand from his lap with the gun in it and pointed it towards the driver’s side door where law enforcement were. Shots rang out, smoke filled the car and an incredible pain filled my body. I had been shot, 2 times, by the police officer. My assailant slumped over in the car next to me. My passenger side door flung open and I jumped out. I attempted to run but fell to the pavement. I was hurt but was going to be okay. I had been shot but was saved from my assailant. I later learned that both the guns he had were loaded. I am grateful for the efforts of those police officers that night, They undoubtedly saved my life.
This occurred while at work trying to pay my way through college. I was working full time and pursuing a degree in history with a goal of being a teacher. In an instant, I was thrust into the criminal justice system, meeting police officers and lawyers, judges and advocates. I saw the system at work. I had a front row seat for it all and how it impacts so many lives. I changed my major and set my sights on law school with the goal of being a prosecutor. A goal of helping victims and their families through the worst of times the way I was helped. Offering justice and closure to those in their time of need. Helping to stand on that narrow line between law abiding citizens and those who wish to do harm.
Since becoming a prosecutor I have held many roles in the State Attorney’s office. Positions held include, Misdemeanor Trial Attorney, Felony Early Resolution, Felony Trial division, Sex Crimes and Child Abuse unit, Career Criminal and Firearms Unit, Felony Division Chief and Chief Trial Attorney. During my career as a prosecutor I have handled thousands of criminal cases ranging from petit theft to public corruption, drug trafficking to 1st degree murder. I am the recipient of the Brevard Trial Attorney of the year given to the top trial attorney in 2012 and 2015. I am also the recipient of the Victim Rights Prosecutor of the year in 2014 along with the Brevard Police Chief’s Top Prosecutor award for 2015. I am proud to be a trial attorney who does it the right way. The vigorous but fair prosecution of cases.
I have spent my career in public service as a prosecutor, something I wish to continue. It is very humbling to have the support that I have from my family, friends and peers. I am proud to be endorsed by the Sheriffs of Brevard and Seminole County. Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Sheriff Dennis Lemme, thank for placing your trust in me and recognizing my commitment to our community and keeping it safe.
I only hope to live up to the words of Robert H Jackson when he describes the qualities of a good prosecutor. “The qualities of a good prosecutor are as elusive and as impossible to define as those which mark a gentleman. And those who need to be told would not understand it anyway. A sensitiveness to fair play and sportsmanship is perhaps the best protection against the abuse of power, and the citizen’s safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.”
Thank you for your Support!
William
I am seeking to qualify for ballot placement by obtaining signed petitions. I need over 8,700 petitions combined from Brevard and Seminole County voters. Please print, fill out the highlighted portions and sign, and ask your friends and family to do the same! Completed forms can be mailed to:
William Scheiner for State Attorney
PO Box 561418
Rockledge Fl, 32956
Candidate Petition (pdf)
DownloadPOLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PAID FOR AND APPOVED BY WILLIAM SCHEINER REPUBLICAN FOR STATE ATTORNEY 18TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.