The Florida Attorney General is taking on the Orlando State Attorney over sweetheart plea deals to violent criminals and saying this neglect of duty must end.
Republican Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says Democratic State Attorney Monique Worrell, who serves Orange County and Osceola County in Central Florida, keeps handing out sweetheart plea deals to violent criminals and providing youthful offender status.
The Florida AG said that in the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Central Florida, the law does not appear to be the mandate. “State Attorney Monique Worrell is giving violent criminals and murderers, who have no business being in our community, youthful offender status,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.
He then listed numerous Central Florida cases where Worrell’s office gave out plea deals that seemingly benefited violent criminals. In one example provided, the Florida Attorney General says nobody indicted for capital murder should get a sweetheart plea deal for only four years in prison, calling it unacceptable. Many in the greater Orlando community are also getting tired of Worrell’s office refusing to prosecute or hold criminals accountable.
It is now clear the actions of the Orange-Osceola State Attorney are being watched and judged.
“Monique Worrell’s misjudgements are far too numerous and her conduct is not beyond oversight by the state or the public,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said. “State Attorney Worrell’s obvious pattern or practice of leniancy on violent and deadly criminals must end.”
