Former Coral Springs Mayor To Serve 4-1/2 Years In Prison   

By Nicol Jenkins
Editor

The Coral Springs community is reacting to the news that former Coral Springs Mayor John Sommerer has been sentenced to 4-1/2 years in prison.

“It’s a very difficult thing for his family to be put through,” said Maureen Berk, who worked alongside Sommerer on the Coral Springs City Commission for about 10 years.

Besides jail time, Sommerer must also serve 30 years of sexual offender probation after jail. Broward County judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell sentenced Sommerer June 3. He changed his plea to no contest, according to his attorney Gerald Cunningham.
“He pled no contest to this charge, but that does not admit guilt,” Cunningham told the Our Town News. “He wants to put it behind him and his family, and move on with his life.”

Coral Springs police arrested Sommerer, 60, Dec. 19 in connection with allegations of lewd and lascivious conduct on a juvenile. According to police reports, Sommerer allegedly committed nine counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct during the time of October 16, 2006 to October 31, 2007 on one minor.

Sommerer served as the Mayor of Coral Springs for about 10 years and has a wife and four sons.  
“I do not know him socially but as a commissioner. It’s just a shame that his family has to go through this,” Berk added.
Randee Abramson, who has been running Sommerer’s accounting firm in Coral Springs since he was arrested, says the office will remain open.

“The firm will continue to operate with business as usual. I am a CPA and I will continue to do the taxes. The company is separate from any personal matters,” Abramson told the Our Town News. “I have spoken to John and he has said that his family prefers to remain private at this time.”