A Florida man returned home after 7-months to find a squatter in his home, a Florida woman intentionally reversed her car into a man in a wheelchair striking him twice, four teens were arrested for allegedly brutally beating a pizza delivery man and stealing his car, a fired Florida employee returns to her employer and ransacks that place, and a Florida woman is accused of making a fake 911 call about a child drowning: Here's FOX 35's Week in Review.
Florida judge declines to dismiss criminal case against Rebekah Jones
News Service of Florida
View Comments
A Leon County circuit judge Tuesday refused to dismiss a criminal charge against former state COVID-19 data analyst Rebekah Jones, who has been accused of illegally accessing a Florida Department of Health computer system.
Judge Francis Allman issued a one-page order denying Jones’ motion to dismiss the case. He did not explain the decision.
Jones, who was fired from her health department position in May 2020, has received national attention after alleging that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration manipulated data about COVID-19 cases and deaths.
The attention increased in December when Jones posted a video of armed state agents executing a search warrant at her home. Prosecutors in January charged her with illegally accessing the computer system Nov. 10.
A judge had set bond at $2,500.
Jones left the detention facility Monday with an unidentified man wearing dark sunglasses and a suit.
Jones, the man, and a reporter were seen walking briskly away from the jail. Other reporters and camera operators followed as they walked. The unidentified suited man asked reporters to respect the woman s privacy.
Jones, wearing a mask and a heavy jacket, was walking between a reporter and the suited man when suddenly, she backed away, waved her right arm with palm open, and said, I ve tested COVID positive, you guys, so. She didn t elaborate.
Jones got into the passenger side of a pickup, and they drove away.
The hearing will deal with a motion brought by ex-analyst Rebekah Jones that the FDLE violated her due-process rights and conducted an unlawful search and seizure.