Today, Ron DeSantis announced he had suspended the state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties, Monique Worrell. DeSantis claims Worrell is failing to prosecute violent crime and recommending light sentences for heinous offenses. For full disclosure, I am a native Floridian and was born in Orlando. Although I no longer live in Orlando, I still have many friends and family in the area. Their safety is important to me and in the last few years, they have all complained of rising crime. This past weekend, two Orlando police officers were shot in separate incidents.
.@GovRonDeSantis:
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) August 9, 2023
“Monique Worrell’s administration of criminal justice in the Ninth Circuit has been clearly and fundamentally derelict so as to constitute both neglect of duty and incompetence.”
The grounds for the suspension are as follows:
1/4 pic.twitter.com/Y544RZALnh
Clearly, there is a problem and thankfully, a replacement has been named who will hopefully begin to address the issues.
I am appointing Judge Andrew Bain to step in and take over the duties of the State Attorney’s Office in the 9th Circuit.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 9, 2023
The people of Central Florida deserve a State Attorney that will prosecute criminals and keep our communities safe.
Not unexpectedly, the cries of 'racism' rang loud from the peanut gallery.
In 2020, Monique Worrell was elected overwhelmingly by her community as state attorney. She didn’t finish third behind Vivek Ramaswamy. The people of Orange and Osceola Counties chose her to represent their interests and principles.
— Representative Fentrice Driskell (@FentriceForFL) August 9, 2023
I have no idea what Vivek has to do with anything, and who is finishing third behind him, but whatever.
I don't see any of my other colleagues in the @FLPressCorps saying this so I will.
— Peter Schorsch (@PeterSchorschFL) August 9, 2023
Monique Worrell, among many other things, is a Black Democrat.
There are a lot of White GOP officials in Florida who don't execute their jobs, too, but don't get suspended by @GovRonDeSantis. https://t.co/8uEG4IiF2z
"Why do you always have to make it about race," they'll say?
— Peter Schorsch (@PeterSchorschFL) August 9, 2023
Because it is. https://t.co/wTRABKXkf3
It's all so very exhausting.
Damn. State Attorney Monique Worrell, who was just removed by Ron DeSantis, just responded perfectly: "I am your duly elected State Attorney & nothing done by a weak dictator can change that.” This is exactly how you respond to a fascist. We stand with you, State Attorney Worrell
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) August 9, 2023
Leftists are incredible drama queens.
DeSantis just burned $2.2 million of George Soros's money.
— Robbi Fahey (@robbi_fahey) August 9, 2023
George Soros backed PAC spent over $2.2 million on behalf of progressive Monique Worrell in the 2020 Democratic primary. Worrell has routinely avoided mandatory minimum sentencing for gun crimes & drug trafficking…
The truth of course, is the Left is upset their selected state attorney is now a big waste of money. Will Chamberlain broke it down very succinctly for the Twitter audience.
Today, @GovRonDeSantis suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell for dereliction of duty and incompetence.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Here are some examples of her policies or practices in action.
Daton Viel was arrested in March 2023 for sexual battery on a minor, as well as Lewd and Lascivious Molestation.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
That arrest was made while Viel was on probation for another offense. Viel was still let out on bond.
This past weekend, Viel shot two Orlando Police Officers. pic.twitter.com/gMTIVgZvcS
In November 2022, 17-year-old Lorenzo Larry shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, De’Shayla Ferguson.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Larry had previously been arrested in May 2022 for carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm on school property, and criminal possession of a firearm by a minor. pic.twitter.com/VrOnFh6221
Mr. Larry was released after all these arrests.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Worrell’s office did not act on any of these charges until *after* he killed his girlfriend and their unborn child.
In 2018, Jasir Dopson invaded a home in Orange County and robbed the occupants at gunpoint.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
He was charged with multiple counts of armed burglary with a firearm, robbery with a firearm, and false imprisonment, carrying a 10-year mandatory minimum and a maximum of life in prison.
After Worrell took office in 2021, she declined to prosecute five charges and had adjudication withheld on those remaining.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Dopson is not considered a convicted felon and can still legally possess a gun.
Dopson was sentenced as a juvenile and received only 51 weeks of jailtime.
In June 2021, a minor was arrested for first-degree premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
He had previous arrests for burglary, resisting an officer, aggravated battery, and assault with a firearm.
Worrell’s office dropped the premeditated murder charges.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
In January 2023, the same minor was arrested for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Worrell’s office didn’t prosecute the charge.
In October 2022, a minor was arrested on first-degree murder charges with a firearm.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
The shooting was captured on video.
One month later, Worrell’s office filed a petition to reduce the charge from *murder* to firearm possession.
The minor was placed on probation.
Randall Fredericks was arrested in 2020 for possession of child pornography.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
In August 2022, he was charged with 45 counts, but by February 2023, Worrell’s office reduced that number to 10.
Under law, each count carries 15 years. Fredericks was sentenced to just 130 months.
Lathon Yee was charged with attempted murder with a firearm and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm with a firearm.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
If convicted on these charges, he would have faced a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison.
Worrell’s office amended the charge down to attempted manslaughter with a firearm, which carries no mandatory minimum.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Yee was sentenced to just five years in prison.
As a juvenile, Keith Moses was arrested for aggravated battery, assault, and grand theft. In November 2021, he was arrested for drug possession, but Worrell’s office did not charge him.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
In February 2023, a now 19-year-old Moses shot five people and killed a reporter and a 9-year-old girl. pic.twitter.com/yz2tFOCOmk
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
As @GovRonDeSantis said, “the people of Central Florida deserve to have a State Attorney who will seek justice in accordance with the law instead of allowing violent criminals to roam the streets.”
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Andrew Bain will prosecute criminals and keep Central Florida communities safe.
Another thread with a broader look at @GovRonDeSantis' executive order here:https://t.co/GJS8wRpxr7
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Earlier today we highlighted some individual prosecution decisions made by the now-suspended State Attorney Monique Worrell.
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) August 9, 2023
Now, let’s take a broader look at @GovRonDeSantis’ executive order to see how Worrell was derelict in her duty.
We’ll start with gun crime.
As dear readers can see, there is long and well documented evidence of why Worrell should be suspended, but it's much easier for the corporate media and Leftists (but I repeat myself) to throw aspersions rather than carefully inspect the reasons for the action. Republicans will never get the benefit of the doubt, but the best way to begin to address our two tiered court system is to remove Soros backed prosecutors. Other red state Governors should be doing the same. It's not enough for us to complain about the disparate treatment former President Trump is receiving or how Hunter Biden gets away with multiple crimes. We must be about doing something to rectify the situation. In Florida, Governor DeSantis has now suspended 2 Soros backed prosecutors. This is a start. Conservatives must do more than shake our fists and scream about unfair treatment. We must be strategic and fight the enemy from all flanks. We must be about doing something rather than just complaining about something. Let's lend our full support to this action and encourage other legislators to use the full levers of power to squash Leftist persecution through our court system.
