Sunshine Offenses Won't Be Pursued; 'CLEAR CRIMINAL INTENT' State Attorney Says He Needs to See That before He'll Prosecute Any City Council Violations. NONCRIMINAL CHARGES OUT Shorstein Says He's Too Busy with Violent Crimes to Devote Time to Civil Infractions

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Byline: BETH KORMANIK

Short of seeing evidence of a kickback to a Jacksonville City Council member or other criminal act, State Attorney Harry Shorstein said Tuesday he was not willing to prosecute any violations of the state's open meetings law.

"I do not think I would ever charge anybody without a clear criminal intent," he said in a meeting with the Times-Union editorial board.

A grand jury report unsealed Monday found evidence that council members committed "technical or noncriminal" violations of the law, which is intended to open government decision-making to the public. The law requires that whenever two members of the public board or commission meet …