A local man who served time at the Marion County jail nearly a decade ago is asking county commissioners to forgive over $8,200 in debt so that he can move forward with a home purchase.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, April 7, to consider a request from Briley Garrett Carr for the reduction or release of a civil restitution lien totaling $8,279.57. The debt consists of $5,500 for the “cost of incarceration” and $2,779.57 in accrued interest.

In an email sent to Marion County Attorney Matthew Minter’s office on March 27, Carr explained that he only discovered the outstanding judgments while in the process of trying to buy a house.

“I was totally unaware of these charges or incarceration, I paid off all court fees and restitution long ago,” Carr wrote, noting that his mortgage company brought the liens to his attention. “Is there anyway possible to waive these charges? I was told by the clerks office that may be an option.”

The liens stem from a case in which Carr was arrested on October 1, 2017, for battery, petit theft, and violation of a domestic violence injunction. Following a “no contest” plea in December 2017, a judge sentenced Carr to 72 days in the Marion County Jail.

Under Florida law, the court imposed a “cost of incarceration” lien at a rate of $50 per day, totaling $3,600.00 for his initial stay. Carr later violated his probation and failed to appear in court, leading to a second jail sentence in 2019 where an additional $1,900 lien was recorded.

County records indicate Carr has already paid all other court fines and fees related to the case.

Carr’s request follows a similar case in January where the board granted a conditional reduction to Sarah Ames, a single mother who sought to clear her incarceration debt to begin a career in healthcare.

In that instance, commissioners swayed from their usual course of action, agreeing to waive Ames’ entire debt if she provided proof of employment within 180 days.

Unlike Ames, who served 51 days, Carr’s debt is significantly higher due to the nearly 3,000 days of interest that have elapsed since the original 2018 judgment.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners will vote on the matter during their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, April 7, at 9 a.m.