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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said nonprosecution policies in Orlando are putting families at risk. During a news conference Friday, Uthmeier said Orlando has a pattern of “soft-on-crime policies.”Uthmeier called out 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell for not pressing charges on “gruesome and horrific” child predator cases.In one case, a man on a park bench was accused of masturbating while facing multiple kids playing. Uthmeier said that, although there was video evidence and testimonies from people, Worrell decided that charges did not need to be brought. “She gave this man a free walk in the park, and now other kids are in jeopardy,” Uthmeier said. In another case, a suspect was accused of sharing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. However, Worrell dropped all charges, according to Uthmeier. “Soft-on-crime policies do not work,” Uthmeier said. Uthmeier said child predators should be prosecuted to the fullest.In August, Worrell reported a 21% decrease in the backlog of nonarrest cases, though more than 10,000 cases remain. She emphasized the need for increased funding to retain prosecutors and improve trial statistics.Worrell responded during her own news conference, addressing the attorney general’s claims. “It is an outright reckless disregard for the truth to suggest that I have non-prosecution policies on the books,” Worrell said. She defended her office’s handling of the cases mentioned by Uthmeier, sharing notes from the attorney on the Chapman case. “I’m not standing before you today telling you that what happened in that park was wrong. But I am standing before you today telling you that I trust the word of the attorney who was assigned to this case when he said, although those actions were wrong, he could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they were illegal,” Worrell said.Worrell criticized the attorney general’s approach, stating that instead of collaborating with her office to address crime, Uthmeier’s conferences spread misinformation and prioritize politics over public safety.Related stories below:
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said nonprosecution policies in Orlando are putting families at risk.
During a news conference Friday, Uthmeier said Orlando has a pattern of “soft on crime policies.”
Uthmeier called out 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell for not pressing charges on “gruesome and horrific” child predator cases.
In one case, a man on a park bench was accused of masturbating while facing multiple kids playing.
Uthmeier said that, although there was video evidence and testimonies from people, Worrell decided that charges did not need to be brought.
“She gave this man a free walk in the park, and now other kids are in jeopardy,” Uthmeier said.
In another case, a suspect was accused of sharing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children. However, Worrell dropped all charges, according to Uthmeier.
“Soft-on-crime policies do not work,” Uthmeier said.
Uthmeier said child predators should be prosecuted to the fullest.
In August, Worrell reported a 21% decrease in the backlog of nonarrest cases, though more than 10,000 cases remain.
She emphasized the need for increased funding to retain prosecutors and improve trial statistics.
Worrell responded during her own news conference, addressing the attorney general’s claims.
“It is an outright reckless disregard for the truth to suggest that I have non-prosecution policies on the books,” Worrell said.
She defended her office’s handling of the cases mentioned by Uthmeier, sharing notes from the attorney on the Chapman case.
“I’m not standing before you today telling you that what happened in that park was wrong. But I am standing before you today telling you that I trust the word of the attorney who was assigned to this case when he said although those actions were wrong, he could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they were illegal,” Worrell said.
Worrell criticized the attorney general’s approach, stating that instead of collaborating with her office to address crime, Uthmeier’s conferences spread misinformation and prioritize politics over public safety.
Related stories below:
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