Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday morning that he has suspended Monique Worrell, State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, for dereliction of duty and incompetence.
DeSantis said that Worrell, who was backed by a group tied to Democrat billionaire George Soros, has allowed murderers, other violent offenders, and dangerous drug traffickers to receive extremely reduced sentences and escape the full consequences of their criminal conduct.
The policies and practices mentioned in the executive order that led to her suspension include Avoiding Minimum Mandatory Sentences for Gun Crimes, Avoiding Minimum Mandatory Sentences for Drug Trafficking Offenses, Allowing Juvenile Offenders to Avoid Serious Charges and Incarceration Altogether, Avoiding Valid and Applicable Sentencing Enhancements, Limiting Charges for Child Pornography, and Seeking Withhold of Adjudication in Situations Not Permitted Under Florida Law.
DeSantis’s office listed numerous instances of the “more egregious results of her policies or practices in action.” Some of the examples included:
- “Just this past weekend, Worrell was at the center of a major controversy. Daton Viel was arrested in March 2023 for sexual battery on a minor, as well as Lewd and Lascivious Molestation. That arrest was made while Viel was on probation for another offense – that probation began in February 2023. Viel was still let out on bond and thereafter shot two Orlando Police Officers.”
- “In November 2022, 17-year-old Lorenzo Larry shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, De’Shayla Ferguson. Larry had previously been arrested in May 2022 on several charges, including carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm on school property, and criminal possession of a firearm by a minor. But he was released after all these arrests. Worrell’s office did not act on any of these charges until after he killed his girlfriend and their unborn child.”
- “In February 2023, 19-year-old Keith Moses shot and killed a cameraman and a 9-year-old girl. He had a long history of arrests as a juvenile, including aggravated battery, assault, and grand theft. As recently as November 2021, he was arrested for drug possession, but no charges were pursued.”
- “In October 2022, a minor was arrested on first-degree murder charges with a firearm. The shooting was captured on video. One month later, Worrell’s office inexplicably filed a petition to reduce the charge to firearm possession. He was placed on probation.”
The governor said at a press conference that he was appointing Judge Andrew Bain to take over Worrell’s duties as State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
The move by DeSantis comes almost exactly one year after he removed another woke Soros prosecutor, State Attorney Andrew Warren of the 13th Judicial Circuit, from office.
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