Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis made a significant announcement on Wednesday morning, revealing his decision to suspend Monique Worrell, the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. DeSantis cited concerns of dereliction of duty and incompetence in her handling of criminal cases.
DeSantis specifically pointed out that Worrell, who garnered support from a group associated with Democrat billionaire George Soros, had been instrumental in allowing individuals convicted of serious crimes like murder, violent offenses, and drug trafficking to receive disproportionately lenient sentences, thereby escaping the full consequences of their actions.
The executive order leading to her suspension highlighted several policies and practices that prompted these actions. Some of these controversial practices include avoiding minimum mandatory sentences for gun-related crimes, minimizing the severity of charges for drug trafficking offenses, enabling juvenile offenders to evade significant charges and incarceration, and neglecting valid sentencing enhancements.
Governor DeSantis’s office cited egregious instances where Worrell’s policies allegedly led to dangerous outcomes. One such example involved Daton Viel, who had been arrested in March 2023 for sexual battery on a minor. Despite being on probation for a previous offense, Viel was released on bond and later went on to shoot two Orlando Police Officers.
Another case involved 17-year-old Lorenzo Larry, who fatally shot his pregnant girlfriend, De’Shayla Ferguson. Larry had faced prior arrests for charges including carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a firearm on school property, yet he was released each time. It was only after the tragic incident that Worrell’s office took action on these charges.
Governor DeSantis’s decision to suspend Worrell is indicative of his commitment to upholding law and order, a core tenet of conservative ideology. By spotlighting cases where lenient policies appeared to lead to tragic consequences, DeSantis aligns with conservative values that prioritize public safety, accountability, and the enforcement of effective criminal justice measures.
