OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis today suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez from office, effective immediately, following the filing of a criminal information against him in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The Governor simultaneously announced the appointment of Christopher A. Blackmon, Central Region Chief for the Florida Highway Patrol, to serve as the new Sheriff for Osceola County.
Sheriff Lopez faces one count of Racketeering, a first-degree felony, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, also a first-degree felony, under Florida Statutes. The charges were formally brought against him today, June 5, 2025.
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“Under my administration, Florida is a law-and-order State,” Governor DeSantis stated in Executive Order 25-121, which formally enacts the suspension. “It is in the best interests of the residents of Osceola County, and the citizens of the State of Florida, that Lopez be immediately suspended from public office.”
The Executive Order highlights the Governor’s constitutional authority to suspend county officers for various reasons, including the commission of a felony. Article IV, section 7, subsection (a) of the Florida Constitution grants the Governor this power.
Christopher A. Blackmon, a seasoned law enforcement professional with 35 years of experience, will assume the role of Osceola County Sheriff for the duration of Lopez’s suspension. Blackmon currently oversees over 850 sworn troopers and 95 civilian employees as the Central Region Chief for the Florida Highway Patrol.
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He also serves as the Florida Highway Patrol Statewide Immigration Incident Commander. His community involvement includes volunteering for the Special Olympics, Clermont Little League, and Make-a-Wish. Blackmon holds a bachelor’s degree in homeland security from Vincennes University.
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