SunSentinel; Published By Christopher Cann & Jeff Weiner
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday announced the suspension of Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, a decision that has been looming over the prosecutor since February, when the governor condemned her office following a deadly shooting spree in Pine Hills.
At a press conference, DeSantis said Worrell and her office has been “clearly and constitutionally derelict” in her duty and said her policies justify her removal from office. Andrew A. Bain, a judge in Orange County, has been appointed by the governor.
DeSantis said Worrell had a pattern or practice to avoid minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimes, drug trafficking offenses and a pattern to allow juveniles to avoid serious charges or incarceration altogether. He also accused her office of limiting charges for child pornography.
“It does not accomplish anything to prosecute a case with no intent to stop crimes,” Bain said. “I will make this office accountable to the community we serve and ensure criminals who poison society, cause mayhem and murder are held accountable under the law.”
Both DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody mentioned the shooting in Orlando that left two police officers injured over the weekend as an example of the consequences from Worrell’s policies.
On Monday, two days before her suspension, Worrell rebuked accusations from police union officials who said her office should have done more to keep the man accused of shooting the officers behind bars when he was arrested earlier this year. Read more
